transport - action on yorkshire buses
WORKERS, JULY 2003 ISSUE
Bus workers in Sheffield and the surrounding area began a series of escalating strikes over pay on Saturday 7 June. They are challenging their employer's failure to end low pay for drivers.
Over 1,000 members of the Transport & General Workers Union working for First South Yorkshire strongly supported action in a 24-hour strike.
A 48-hour stoppage took place the following week. If the dispute is not resolved, there will be a further walkout, this time over three days.
The union says that low wages lead to high turnover and poor service. It wants an improvement in the starting rate from £5.36 an hour to £6.
More importantly it wants an established rate of £7 after 2 years, compared with the present £6.49 after 4 years.
T&G national officer Graham Stevenson said: "Such low wages are an absolute disgrace in this day and age."