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    boffin9139 wrote:
    I'm an ex-bus driver of over 20 years service. I was also a member of a garage tu committee and served as a shop steward for the supervisory staff of London Buses. I have never agreed with any strike unless other options have been exhausted. If I was asked to support a strike, the answer would always be 'No' unless the people calling it could clearly demonstrate to me that there was an injustice, or they were being asked to carry out clearly unreasonable tasks or they were being put in immediate danger. I believed, and still do to a point, in working to rule. This causes disruption to the operator as you are working exactly what your contract says. Many operators rely on staff going that one step further to help maintain a service, often at no recompence to the staff member. You cannot be dismissed or disciplined for carrying out what your contract states. The benefit to staff is, they still get paid! go on strike, you don't and the operator has in some ways saved a substantial amount of money. I left Unite when they 'stitched me up in an industrial claim that I was led to believe, by Unite, funnily by Kavanagh, that I would win (I honestly believed and still do that my case was very strong and win-able). I have no time for any union holding the innocent parties at ransom just because they want extra pay for working the Olympics. I drove buses during the Euro 96 tournament, I didn't get any extra. I worked through the London Riots 20-30 years ago, I didn't get any extra, I attended security incidents through the London bombings, both IRA and Al Queeda, I did'nt get get any extra. I find myself these days one of the unemployed through no fault of mine and dearly wish I could get up in the mornings and go to work. How dare any striker abuse what they have and should be appreciative that they have a job. I hate to say it but I agree with some of the comments regarding sacking them. A legal injunction was obtained and yet this has been blatently ignored. This is a sackable offence under gross misconduct and therefore breach of contract. In this instance I agree with the call for dismissals. Dear Mr. Bus Operator, I'd be happy to come and drive for you. What's in it for me?...meaningful employment and a sense of worth and an opportunity to get some self-respect that I have lost. What do you get?...a loyal and trustworthy individual who simply wants to earn his way in society and, maybe more importantly, NOT A UNION MEMBER!!
    My thoughts entirely. Rather than fighting for an extra £500 for doing your JOB, some people would do it for £500 less a month, just to have a job at all. I hope you get a job soon mate!"
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London bus strike is causing major disruption

9:09am Friday 22nd June 2012 in Lewisham © Press Association

London bus strike is causing major disruption London bus strike is causing major disruption

LONDON bus workers have gone ahead with a strike in a dispute over an Olympic bonus, halting three out of four services.

Commuters and tourists faced a day of disruption because of the 24-hour walkout by thousands of members of Unite at 17 bus companies in pursuit of a £500 payment for working during the Games.

Transport for London says around 24 per cent of services are running, with disruption on many routes.

Bus passengers are urged to walk or cycle if possible or switch to other forms of transport.

The action went ahead even though three companies - Arriva, Metroline and London General - were granted an injunction in the High Court yesterday (June 21) by Mr Justice Supperstone preventing Unite members they employ from going on strike.

Hopes had been raised that the strike could be averted after London mayor Boris Johnson announced that £8.3m was available for bus companies to pay a bonus, but talks at the conciliation service Acas ended without agreement.

Mr Johnson said: "I am saddened, disappointed and enormously frustrated that despite brokering £8.3 million of funding, union leaders and the private bus companies have failed to reach agreement, and as a result it looks likely that Londoners will face unnecessary and needless disruption."

Transport commissioner Peter Hendy said: "It is now clear that the leadership of Unite were intent on a strike all along.

“They have pursued this unnecessary course of action despite an extra £8.3 million being brokered by the mayor that would allow every bus driver in London in a garage where one or more routes were affected by the 2012 Games to gain, over the 29 days of the competitions, about £500."

Unite London regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: "Bus workers across the vast majority of London's bus network will be on strike.

“This comes despite an injunction which was given without any proper explanation.

“It begs the question of whether the court has come under any external pressure in making the ruling.

"Granting an injunction in the face of a massive vote for strike action is an affront to democracy.

“We are fast becoming a country where justice rules in favour of big business and tramples on the rights of ordinary working men and women.

“We will appeal this anti-democratic decision.

“It will only serve to deepen the resolve of London bus workers.

"The failure by the bus companies to negotiate seriously and their desire to run to the courts will only heighten tensions.

“The decision by these three bus companies runs contrary to the mayor's call to pay London bus workers an Olympic bonus."

Do you think the bus drivers are right to strike? Have your say below.

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