South West London is facing major disruption to its bus services this winter as members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed at London United, will be balloted for industrial action, following the company’s dismissal of a local shop steward.

Victimisation

The dispute involves 330 bus drivers based at the company’s Fulwell depot in Twickenham. The dispute arose after the depot’s shop steward was dismissed following the successful pay strikes at the company this summer.

The industrial action ballot will open on Monday 7 November and closes on Monday 5 December, if the drivers vote for industrial action, then strike action could occur throughout the winter.

Collective strength

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite will never allow its workplace representatives to be victimised and the union will use all its collective strength to right this wrong. An injury to one is an injury to all.

“London United must accept our member should never have been dismissed and reinstate him immediately.”

London United is a subsidiary of the French state owned transport company RATP.

Unacceptable behaviour 

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “This is trade union victimisation – clear and simple. Our members took strike action and won. Now the employer, in an act of spite, has decided to attack union organisation by attacking our rep.

“Our members who put their heads above the parapet, who provide leadership, and who stand shoulder to shoulder with workers day in, day out, must and will be defended by Unite using our strongest weapon – our collective strength.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

 For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.

 

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