Brighton Bus drivers threaten work to rule

The Argus. 31/01/06.

Bus drivers threaten work-to-rule

From the archive, first published Tuesday 31st Jan 2006.

Thousands of bus passengers face long delays and disruption if drivers push ahead with plans to work to rule.

Bus drivers are planning the industrial action in Brighton and Hove if their pay rise request is rejected.

They have been locked in pay talks with managers but so far, they have not reached an agreement.

The move would affect more than 100,000 passenger journeys a day, with drivers waiting until every passenger was seated before pulling off, stopping at every stop even if no one is waiting to get on or off and not pulling away from a bus stop until the bus in front has left.

They claim the work to rule policy would lead to waiting times being doubled and the cancellation of some services.

One driver, who did not wish to be named, said: "We had considered strike action during the rush hour but we thought that would make us unpopular.

"We want the public to be behind us. Work-to-rule just means we would be doing exactly what we are supposed to do. But unfortunately, it will cause chaos for passengers.

"Within the first half-an-hour of the day, buses will already be running 20 to 25 minutes late. This would build and build and the rotas would be all over the place. Everything would run into break times and services would have to be cut. It would be mayhem.

"People are very angry about the pay. We have been fighting for a long time. I believe there will be a lot of support for industrial action."

Last year 37 million passenger journeys were made across the Brighton and Hove Buses network.

Union representatives from the Transport and General Workers' Union have been in pay negotiations with Brighton and Hove Buses, part of the Go-Ahead Group, since September.

Drivers are paid £8.41 an hour, with an extra £1 an hour for weekends and double time for bank holidays.

Following pay discussions, managing director Roger French offered employees a flat pay rise of £16 a week.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, 499 workers voted against the pay offer. Only 26 voted in favour.

The workers claim pay increases over the last few years have not risen in line with inflation and want an offer of at least £9 an hour with the existing weekend rate.

The driver said: "We have rejected Mr French's offer and we are waiting to see if he will offer us more. But he said £16 a week was his final offer so we are not expecting anything.

"If that is the case, we are going to have a postal ballot for industrial action, which would be to work to rule.

Mr French said: "We are still talking to trade union representatives about pay for staff. There is no suggestion that we have been advised about anything else such as work to rule."

He added there would be another meeting within the next two weeks.