We met a number of reps from Stagecoach, First Bus, McGill’s and East Coast buses across Scotland. They all have different pay, terms and conditions and often these differentials exist within the same bus operators.
Building effective organisation across bus garages in Scotland could help provide reps with an opportunity to compare and contrast pay alongside terms and conditions while helping reps develop worker led campaigns to level up with the best in the country.
Building and expanding our networks in the Passenger Transport and Automotive sectors in Scottish garages could provide Unite representatives with a forum that reaches into every garage across Scotland to help workers address many of the outstanding grievances that exist throughout the industry.
Both Jules and Ray have led successful campaigns to level up pay and improve terms and conditons by building effective combine organisation in our own sectors.
Like many bus workers we have experienced the downside of fragmented bargaining being driven by huge businesses squeezing us. The drive towards bus franchising came up at a number of garages. What lessons can we learn from our colleagues who have been through this experience in England? What demands should we place on the Scottish Government to oversee and help Unite reps influence this process? Unite Scotland should be looking to develop a strategy with reps across the garages in Scotland to help shape the outcome on our terms.
If elected we will look to meet with reps in the garages to find out how we can support you all to develop a worker led strategy.
Ballots will land this week. Please vote for Jules & Ray and we look forward to meeting you after the election.