Weymouth Buses are entering their 6th week of strike action by drivers in UNITE the Union. In this, they have the full support of Dorchester, Weymouth & Portland TUC.
This Press Release is being issued to dispel a number of myths about the dispute. It has been rumbling on for years, the bone of contention being the fact that Weymouth fleet pay the worst wages in the entire First empire. All Weymouth drivers are asking for is wage parity with Yeovil fleet (not the best paid) – a fleet with a lower average fare return ( £50 a day, compared to a Weymouth level of £1500) yet a much higher wage rate (£9.50 – £10.85 per hour, compared to £8.80 – £9.48 per hour for Weymouth). It seems that First are paying such low wages simply because they think they can get away with it.
There have been misleading reports of the strike crumbling. So far only 3 of the 90 drivers in dispute have returned to work. This shows the level of commitment of the strikers, not their giving up.
DW&P TUC urges local workers to take collections for the drivers and deliver them to the picket lines at Weymouth Bus Station on Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings.
We urge First Bus to stop wasting money on bussing in strikebreaker sand putting them up at the Rembrandt, and to negotiate a fair pay deal giving parity with Yeovil depot.
Bus workers spend their wages in the local economy. What benefits them, benefits the community as a whole. Their fight is our fight.
Tim Nicholls, Secretary
