Global Union Backs Unite’s Olympics Case

Global Union Backs Unite’s Olympics Case

Global union federation the ITF today wrote to the capital’s bus companies, Transport for London and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to back Unite the Union’s case that London’s bus drivers deserve a bonus payment for meeting the increased working demands of the Olympics.

ITF inland transport section secretary Mac Urata wrote:

‘I am writing to you on behalf of the 4.5 million transport workers that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) represents in 153 countries worldwide to raise our concern that despite repeated requests from our affiliate, Unite the Union, your company has refused to meet with the union to discuss plans for the forthcoming OIympic Games, including the payment of abonus for bus workers during the Games. As a result, Unite has been forced to ballot its bus worker members for industrial action. We understand that nearly 40% of Unite bus members working for 21 bus companies voted 94% in favour of strike action recently. The ITF is writing to all the 21 bus operators as well as the Mayor of London and Transport for London on this matter.

The ITF and its affiliates firmly believe that the public transport workers have the right to strike as enshrined in the core Conventions of the International Labour Organisation and will be backing any lawful actions that the union may take. The salaries and conditions of public transport workers must fully reflect the vital role that they play in our society and national economy. We believe that there will be massive pressure on London’s transport network and huge demands on London’s transport workers with the expected number of people using London’s buses to jump by 800,000 during the Olympic period. However, the bus companies are the only London transport operators refusing to agree a payment for their workers, with workers at London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railways (DLR), Network Rail, Heathrow Express and Virgin Rail all reportedly due to receive an additional payment of at least £500 during the Olympics.

The ITF and its 690 affiliates around the world fully support Unite’s demands that the London bus operators recognize the contribution their employees will bemaking to the success of the Olympics and in particular, the union’s demand for bus workers to receive a one-off payment of £500 to compensate for the massively increased workloads they will face over the Olympics.

As you may know, the ITF, as a global organisation for transport workers, communicates regularly with bus and railway workers and their trade unions in Asia/Pacific, Europe, the Americas and Africa. We shall be following the development of this dispute carefully, but trust that your company will negotiate with the union in good faith and meet their demands.’

ENDS

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