CT Plus tries to break strike with 30 pieces of silver
8 October 2010
CT Plus, the bus company in East London facing strike action
today over a derisory pay offer to the lowest paid bus workers in
London, has been offering money to workers to break the strike.
Steve Hart, Unite regional secretary, said: "This is provocative
and irresponsible. CT Plus' profits come from the public purse. For
months Unite has been told that workers in one of London's best
performing, yet worst paying bus companies, will not get a penny
more. Now, they seem to have found an extra £270 per worker as long
as they cross the picket line. This is money that could go a long
way towards settling the dispute."
Instead of waving bribe money around and intimidating
individuals by insisting they declare whether or not they are
taking part in the action, Unite believes HCT Group – which runs
its London buses under the CT Plus brand - should engage in the
serious negotiations that it has proposed.
Steve Hart added: "Our members will not be fooled by these '30
pieces of silver'. They want a properly negotiated and sensible
settlement that will bring them towards rates of pay already paid
to other London busworkers.”
Workers started strike action at 04.00 on Friday 8 October
for 24 hours, and this will be followed by further 24 hour strikes
on the following three Fridays.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Ciaran Naidoo, Unite press officer, on 07768 931315 or Peter
Kavanagh, Unite regional official on 07980 721422
Notes to editors:
Peter Kavanagh, Unite regional official, will be available for
interview from 06.00 on Friday (8 October) at Ashgrove bus depot,
Mare Street, Hackney, E8 4RH
CT Plus operates TfL bus routes – 153, 212, 388, 394, W12 and W13.
It commences operation of two further routes, 385 and 675, both
school bus routes, on 18 October.
CT Plus bus drivers earn £11.78 per hour with no enhancements
for overtime or weekend working compared to another local bus
company which pays £14.06 per hour for Monday to Friday shifts and
£18.76 for Sundays and overtime.
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