Arriva Strike

[wimdebusse]

RE: Arriva Strike

(12/12/2017 10:55)Barney Wrote:  It is completely erroneous to compare bus operators with supermarkets as one provides a service whilst the other provides a product even, though they are both driven by the profit motive. In my opinion, bus drivers have a very difficult and challenging job that requires them to be in constant interaction with the public.

Have you never heard supermarket staff complaining about their working conditions and rates of pay? I do. Constantly. The reason why we never hear of supermarket workers going on strike is because, in the main, the workforce is not unionised.

As for suggesting that a myriad of bus operators would mitigate the effect of strike action can I remind all members that this was part of the rationale when buses were deregulated in 1986. In the intervening years, these new start-up bus operators have morphed into the Big Four that exist now. In essence, in many parts of the UK we now have bus provision provided by a private monopoly or, as on Merseyside, a duopoly.

The resolution is simple: pay the staff what they want.

I think you missed the point, large arias of Merseyside are the monopoly on one operator, as in Southport all the routes not operated by Arriva run along or near to the A565, which is fine for those living on or near the A565, but for everyone else it's "tuff luck" . I heard a driver asked yesterday about the strike on Wednesday and he basicly said won't know untill late on Tuesday, that's why I said Arriva and the unions have such contempt for the passengers, near as dam no notification as to whether there will be a bus service or not.