‘Within our grasp’

Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland seconded a transport policy motion focusing on bus services.

Speaking for Unite’s quarter of a million transport members she said it was vital for jobs, communities and the economy to have a fully integrated transport policy.

“Buses are the most frequently used – and it’s been said the most democratic form of public transport. They are the lifelines of our communities, for people of all ages – and for women in particular,” believed Holland.

But that relevance was often taken for granted. After 30 years of deregulation and privatisation and more recently austerity, “many communities, especially rural communities feel let down and left out.

“What use is a bus pass if there’s no bus?” she asked.

“Services designed and run for private profit, not local need, while every day Unite’s 90,000 bus workers face threats to their pay and pensions in the race to the bottom on standards. It’s no way to run a bus service.”

She explained Unite’s aim in getting involved in this debate was the introduction of this year’s bus services act which “enables re-regulation of buses, which is of course welcome. But it’s the implementation of this re-regulation that now needs to happen. And the union must be at the table, as agreed, as of right.

“Together with agreed TUPE and pension rights – rights we must win for new workers too,” she continued.

“The bus act could also have provided an opportunity to extend bus use satisfaction and save £506m a year through municipal operation- bringing buses into public control and ownership, while meeting local.

“But the government inserted a clause in the act to ban councils from setting up new municipal bus companies. They are hell bent on destroying our democracy. So if we want the best for the workers, for our communities we need to join together to get this clause out!

“A decent, accountable bus service is within our grasp,” concluded Holland.