Unite slams Boris Johnson’s plans for London buses as ‘ludicrous’
1st October 2009
Unite, the UK’s largest trade union, has today (Thursday)
welcomed the findings of an independent report, produced by the
Royal Automobile Club Foundation (RAC) which states that mayor
Boris Johnson is “pre-occupied with minority-focused transport
schemes and high-cost initiatives”.
Unite regional industrial organiser, Peter Kavanagh, said:
“Unite warned the mayor that the withdrawal of the bendy bus would
mean more buses, more operating costs and more congestion on the
already congested roads of London. This report from an organisation
that can hardly be accused of having a political axe to grind,
vindicates everything we argued against.
“The mayor's policies are adding to passenger grief with extra
waiting times, even more congested roads and the likelihood of
increased fares at a time when passengers can ill-afford it. The
costs of operating the hundreds of extra buses required to maintain
capacity will squeeze already very tight budgets.
“Bus drivers are having to cope with the effects of such ill
thought out policies. We say they must not pay the price for
Johnson's bumbling policies which are based more on populist and
sentimental nonsense, hankering after a bygone era of Routemasters,
than on any firm or progressive transport strategy.”
ENDS
For further information contact Peter Kavanagh on 07980 721422
or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or
07980 224761.
