- Figures seen by Unite showed TfL used private operators to
cover workers on strike, putting the public at risk
There will be further strike action by Transport for London bus
workers this week due to an ongoing dispute about rota changes.
Over 150 workers, who are bus controllers and network traffic
controllers, will walk out on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22
May), coinciding with strike action taken by London Underground
drivers who are members of the RMT.
Bus controllers and network traffic controllers do safety
critical roles for TfL, which include dealing with incidents and
accidents, managing bus stations and putting in place bus stop
closures and diversions due to traffic or emergencies such as
accidents.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is an absolute
disgrace that while our members are taking industrial action to
fight for their conditions with passenger safety at the forefront
of their concerns, TfL and the bus companies failed to maintain
safety standards.
“TfL and the bus firms have serious questions to answer about why
proper risk assessments were not undertaken. They must also
change tack and listen to the concerns of our members, who we
will continue to fully support during this dispute.”
Figures seen by Unite showed during last month's strikes, TfL
allowed private bus companies to do their own diversions in order
to cover the network traffic controllers taking action. There
were over 85 unofficial bus diversions made by private operators
during the 23 to 25 April strike action, without any TfL risk
assessments being undertaken.
This potentially put bus drivers as well as thousands of
passengers at risk, as these formal assessments are done to
ensure any diversions are safe. They are essential for achieving
London mayor Sadiq Khan's Vision Zero strategy – the goal that by
2041 all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from
London's transport network.
As well as allowing private operators to make diversions, TfL
brought in untrained band four and five employees to cover the
bus station controllers, some of whom are managers earning over
£100,000.
The dispute comes as TfL has attempted to force through rota
changes that would leave bus workers at a disadvantage, including
added weekend working and making them responsible for more bus
stations, some of which are located in completely different areas
of London. Unite believes this will increase worker fatigue and
stress and will also put them at risk of being disciplined if
they can't reach every site they look after on time.
As the workers are responsible for bus routes all over London,
strikes will cause widespread disruption across the capital -
especially with tube drivers also taking action.
Unite regional officer Nadine Edwards said: "These bus workers do
a vital job, with a small number of them being responsible for
the safety of millions of Londoners and the smooth running of
journeys every day.
"It is time TfL treated these workers with the importance they
deserve and take their concerns about rota changes seriously.
Otherwise, they will have no choice but to go ahead with
industrial action.”
