Honour your agreements

Unite confirmed today (June 8) that they will be entering into talks at the conciliation service Acas with bus company Abellio Surrey in a bid to avert strike action in a dispute over terms and conditions.

 
Bus drivers are angry over unilateral moves by Abellio Surrey to tear up a two-year agreement covering pay and terms and conditions that was signed in 2014.

 
Last year, the company agreed to increase the new starter rate to ÂŁ11.11 per hour and to reduce the time drivers had to serve before qualifying for full pay from two years to 21 months.

 
Earlier this year though, bosses backtracked on the deal by imposing a far lower starter rate of ÂŁ9.46 per hour, with no further negotiation, saying that drivers on it would never qualify for the full rate of ÂŁ11.90 per hour.

 
Unite represents over 100 drivers at the Dutch government owned Abellio Surrey and is threatening strike action on June 11, 12, 15 and 16 if there is no breakthrough in talks.

 
“Bus drivers, who voted overwhelmingly for strike action, feel betrayed by the company’s high-handed and dishonest approach,” said Unite regional officer Dave Weeks. “They do not understand how Abellio can break its word so lightly.

 
“The company’s changes to the agreement mean that new drivers, often with exactly the same qualifications and doing exactly the same job as higher-paid colleagues, will be paid ÂŁ1.65 less than they should be under the agreement.

 
“To add insult to injury the company has also said that they will no longer qualify for the higher full rate, which should be theirs after 18 month’s service with the company,” Weeks added.

 
“We would urge management to see sense, to enter into talks at Acas in a positive manner and avoid strike action by honouring the previous agreement.”

Photo by Arriva436