buses
News and articles about work, policy and workers' struggles in transport and distribution around the world.
Another night of violence in France leaves a woman in critical condition.
On Saturday night there was further violence, including an attack on a bus in Marseile that left a young woman in critical condition.
In Paris 12 bus routes were closed on saturday night for 'security reasons'. There was however one case of a bus being burnt in Yvelines (north-western suburb of Paris). Overnight there were also isolated incidents of buses being stoned and of projectiles being thrown at police.
Stagecoach bus driver's strike a success
An initial strike by bus drivers at Stagecoach North East has been praised by the unions, with further strike action planned for tomorrow.
More than 700 Stagecoach workers walked out on Monday following a row over pay. The workers belong to the T&G.
Bus drivers on strike
Around 700 workers at Stagecoach in Newcastle and South Shields are on strike today.
They rejected a pay offer last week after a ballot by the T&G union, and will be on strike again on Friday if their pay offer of 12%, scaled in over a 28 month period, is not reviewed. Previously, Stagecoach workers in Sunderland accepted the offer after a similar ballot by GMB. Stagecoach has drafted in scabs from around the country to run a skeleton service.
On-the-job action means free ride for Stockholm passengers
This weekend, bus passengers in Stockholm travelled for free as drivers refused to handle cash.
The drivers, members of the Kommunal union, decided to take industrial action after the robbery of a bus driver near Slussen. Passengers without a ticket or travel card were allowed onto buses free of charge. A new ticketing system has massively increased the amount of cash that drivers handle, increasing the risk of attacks.
NYC transit union fined and leader jailed
The New York trade union whose workers brought the city's public transport system to a halt last December has been fined $2.5m by the State Supreme Court for the illegal strike.
Union President Roger Toussaint will also face 10 days in prison.
The Associated Press reported that a judge fined the city transit union $2.5 million Monday for the illegal strike that brought buses and subways to a standstill for three days just before Christmas.
Tehran bus workers leader released
Mansoor Hayat Gheibi, one of the leaders of the Tehran Bus Workers Union was released yesterday following a hunger strike that started last week.
However, his comrade Mansoor Ossanlou, remains imprisoned after his arrest in December last year. Meanwhile the lock-out of some 1,000 bus workers continues, with another 116 more sacked last week.
Iran: Wave of strikes shakes Tehran
The Iranian government also has an internal crisis on its hands. The country's high level of poverty has triggered a series of intense social struggles.
Iran's recent declaration that it has successfully enriched uranium is bound to further increase tensions between Tehran and the United States. But the Iranian government also has an internal crisis on its hands. The country's high level of poverty has triggered a series of intense social struggles.
UK: Bus drivers to come out over pay
With pay stagnating and conditions under constant review by management bus workers in the Midlands have voted three to one in favour of industrial action.
Three days of action planned for 22nd April, 28th April and the 8th May many services across the midlands will grind to a halt causing massive disruption. The workers have taken their demands time and time again to the management but after the last talks broke down the workers have decided to take action.
Finland: indefinite transport strike to start
Workers at 21 road haulage firms, 56 bus companies and ten warehouse terminals are to go on indefinite strike in Finland from Sunday, 6pm.
Around 11,000 workers, members of the Transport Workers' Union will be striking.
The strike is likely to affect around 50% of long-distance bus services, and many local services in cities. It may also affect port operations and goods distribution, and waste collection.
Tehran: a letter from the bus workers' union
The following letter, addressing world labour organisations, was issued in Tehran on Monday by the Tehran bus workers’ union Syndica Vahed.
The Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company (Sherkat e Vahed) is most grateful to all the world’s labour organisations for their unsparing support for our newly-formed organisation.
