The long-running industrial dispute involving over 1,800 bus
drivers employed by Abellio in London has ended after workers
accepted a greatly improved pay offer.
Following a workplace ballot, the workers, who are members of
Unite, the UK’s leading union, have accepted a pay increase that
will see drivers with over two years of service being paid £18 an
hour. This equates to a pay increase of 18 per cent on the basic
rate.
The agreement includes increases to all rates including overtime
and rest day working. Negotiations over the last few weeks also
saw an increase to the rate for new starters and increased rates
for Saturday/Sunday working. The union also won £18 per hour for
drivers who transferred to Abellio under TUPE legislation and had
not previously been made the offer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham
said: “This is an important pay victory. Workers
have stood firm and with the support of their union,
Unite, they have secured a richly deserved pay
increase.
“Unite’s constant focus on the jobs, pay and conditions of our
members is continuing to deliver increased pay awards
for workers.”
Crucially, a commitment to immediately negotiate a new scheduling
agreement was also secured, including early agreement regarding
scheduling rest breaks and start times in order to bring the
dispute to an end.
In addition to the pay increase, the union’s campaign has
resulted in one of Unite’s reps being reinstated after they had
initially been dismissed on trumped up charges. The
union had made clear that there would be no resolution to the
dispute without the reinstatement of the rep.
The victory was hard won, with the workforce
taking over 20 days of strike action beginning late
last year to secure the pay increase.
Unite regional officer Guy Langston, said: “This
pay deal could not have been secured without the hard
work of Unite’s reps and the commitment of its members. Unite
will be looking to build on its increased industrial strength in
future pay negotiations.
"The pay victory at Abellio is a further
example of why those wanting better wages and working
conditions should join Unite and get their colleagues to join as
well.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Source: Unite
Abellio London bus pay dispute
intensifies with strikes over festive period and January
