Cardiff trade unionists oppose bus workers’ job losses

Cardiff’s council-owned bus operator is threatening to axe 20% of workers. Cardiff Bus has told staff it “will need to dismiss as redundant at least 130 members of staff across the entire workforce” out of 700, blaming reduced income due to coronavirus.

Cardiff Trades Union Council held an outdoor, socially distanced meeting in Cardiff Bay on 21 September to discuss the issue, as well as safety at work, NHS pay, and the furlough scheme. The meeting sent solidarity to Cardiff Bus workers and said:

“This shows the urgency for our movement to fight against the job cuts that will arise if the government ends the jobs retention scheme next month. Our movement must stand up to demand that the scheme is retained and prepare to fight for every job.”

NUJ strikers reach agreement

NUJ picket line at the Redditch Standard newspaper August 2020, photo Birmingham SP

NUJ picket line at the Redditch Standard newspaper August 2020, photo Birmingham SP   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The strike by journalists employed by Bullivant Media on free newspapers in Worcestershire and Warwickshire is over. The strikers have reached an agreement with the owners to restore journalistic control over published content.

Unfortunately, they were unable to get the company to rescind the three compulsory redundancies, but the strikers believe that the action will provide a firm base to strengthen the National Union of Journalists chapel going forward.

Clive Walder, Birmingham South West Socialist Party