Workplace news in brief

Bullying bus bosses

Striking Westbourne Park bus workers photo Rob Williams, photo Rob Williams (Click to enlarge)

London bus workers at Tower Transit in London took a second 24-hour stoppage on 6 September over the imposition of roster changes, pay and bullying bosses. The strike followed failed talks at Acas and involved over 1,000 drivers, engineers and controllers at three depots across London. The previous 24-hour strike on 26 August (see issue 914) led to services operating out of the Atlas Road bus depot in Park Royal, the Westbourne Park bus garage and the Lea interchange bus depot affected. All three depots were once again involved in the second stoppage which followed mounting frustration among workers, who are angry over a lack of consultation over roster changes which are leaving them out of pocket, as well as the non-payment of correct rest day working pay rates. There will be a further 24-hour strike on 12 September.

Scots FE walkout

Unison members across Scotland's 20 further education colleges took strike action on 6 September. "Striking is a last resort, but we will support our members in every way possible to achieve the same fair and reasonable pay settlement as already paid out to teaching colleagues," said Unison Scotland organiser John Gallacher. Teaching staff received a flat-rate rise of Ł450 in May, but most support staff have been offered just a Ł230-a-year flat rate increase. Now workers in administration, admissions, funding, catering, cleaning, advice and security, together with classroom assistants, technicians and other support workers, will stage the country's first national strike in the sector next week as they seek fair pay and parity with their lecturer colleagues.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.