Bus ballot prep goes on

Unite is proceeding with its preparations for an industrial action ballot of 3,500 Yorkshire bus workers over ‘the bullying culture’ at two First Group companies.

Unite is preparing the paperwork for the ballots, with the option for strike action, at First West Yorkshire & North Yorkshire, and First South Yorkshire in protest at the anti-union stance created over many years.

The union is awaiting the outcome of the internal appeals against the dismissal of two Unite senior reps at First West Yorkshire & North Yorkshire which were held this week.

Unite said that the management was going to carry out more investigations on the future of the two stewards and announce its decision next Thursday (February 7). Unite has demanded their immediate reinstatement.

“We are continuing with our legal preparations to hold ballots for industrial action by our 3,500 members working across these two First Group companies, commented Unite regional coordinating officer Steve Clark.

“We say that they have been subjected to a systematic campaign of anti-trade union activities. There is a bullying culture that certain managers have greatly contributed to in recent years.

“The appeals for our two stewards were held this week, but the decision won’t be announced until next Thursday (February 7), as the management wants to conduct more inquiries. We are absolutely clear that they should be immediately reinstated.”

Unite has said that certain managers in the two companies were colluding in a campaign of anti-trade union activities and that these executives should be moved out of Yorkshire, so that a better employment relations’ environment  can be created.