London bus driver helps deliver baby, but bus company won't deliver
on pay
27th October 2009
A London bus driver - and Unite union member - helped to deliver
a baby boy on the 394 bus route in Hackney Downs late last week.
But her employer, CT Plus, won't deliver on pay and is refusing to
recognise that its drivers are some of the lowest paid in London.
The drivers will vote on strike action this week.
Unite the union gave CT Plus notice last week (23rd October) of
its intention to ballot its members for strike action. Notice was
given on the same day bus driver Pauline Jacobs helped deliver a
healthy baby boy on the 394 before an ambulance arrived to take the
mother and baby to hospital.
Peter Kavanagh, Unite regional officer, said: "This driver went
above and beyond the call of duty, she was amazing. It just goes to
show that anything can happen on a bus; from a birth to a violent
attack. It's time employers and TfL recognised and valued the work
of bus drivers.
"Pauline helped deliver a baby boy, but the company won't
recognise her and her colleagues' dedication and deliver on pay.
These drivers are some of the lowest paid in London. They get no
overtime payments, no evening working payments and no weekend
payments.
"CT Plus has delivered its best results this year off the backs
of these dedicated drivers but is refusing to bring its employees'
pay closer to what other London bus drivers get.
"No doubt CT Plus and TfL will commend Pauline's fantastic
achievement, but if they really value the dedication and hard work
of London bus drivers they should also pay them what they're
worth."
Drivers working for CT Plus earn around £23,000 a year, one of
the lowest rates for bus drivers in London. The drivers are calling
for a pay increase which brings their pay closer to what most other
bus companies in London pay their drivers.
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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