Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Bus staff dispute resolved after securing 10% pay rise
MOVE COMES AFTER WALKOUTS NY EMPLOYEES AT RATP LONDON UNITED
AN ongoing industrial dispute between members of the Unite union and management at RATP London United, one of the bus companies which runs bus routes on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), has been resolved after it secured a pay offer around three times higher than an initial offer of 3.6%.
Bus staff at Fulwell, Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush and Tolworth depots had walked out twice, including during the Notting Hill Carnival, disrupting 62 bus routes across west London earlier this summer.
However, talks on September 15 did come to a conclusion, with staff gaining a 10% pay rise effective from September 3, together with a 9% pay ride backdated to December 2021.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This was a hard-fought victory. By standing together and taking strike action, our members have ensured they will receive a greatly improved pay increase.
“This victory demonstrates that Unite’s approach to always focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of its member is paying financial dividends.”
In addition to the main pay offer, staff at Park Royal bus garage will be given a Boxing Day bonus payment for this year which will be also paid retrospectively for those who worked it in 201821.
Bus garage trainer drivers will also see their allowance payment rise to £40 per week. Bus staff who have 20 years of continuous service will also get a day’s extra annual leave.
The same union, Unite, has been successful in negotiating a 13% pay rise for British Airways staff at Heathrow earlier this year, and an 11.1% rise for bus staff at Arriva North West around Liverpool last month.
It has announced an all-out, continuous strike at another London bus operator, Arriva London North, from October 4, unless a significant pay offer such as this one, or the current 12.3% inflation estimates is offered.
Although the dispute on pay is now being resolved at RATP London United, Unite says it will be mounting a fresh campaign in support of one of their representatives who has been victimised and dismissed by the company.
The routes which will now see a normal service resume are: 9, 18, 33, 49, 65, 70, 71, 72, 85, 94, 105, 110, 116, 117, 148, 203, 211, 216, 220, 223, 224, 235, 258, 265, 266, 272, 281, 283, 290, 293, 371, 404, 406, 411, 418, 419, 423, 440, 465, 467, 470, 481, C1, E1, E3, H17, H22, H32, H37, H91, H98, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, N9, N18, N33, N65, N72, N266 and S3, plus school routes across Central London, West London and Surrey.