{"id":9834,"date":"2016-09-14T10:54:33","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T09:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=9834"},"modified":"2016-09-15T13:40:15","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T12:40:15","slug":"public-bus-firms-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=9834","title":{"rendered":"Public bus firms everywhere call"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unite delegate and bus worker Taj Salam took to the rostrum, speaking on the bus services Bill.<\/p>\n

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He told the conference, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bBuses are the most frequently used\u00c2\u00a0and most democratic form of public transport.\u00c2\u00a0They are the\u00c2\u00a0lifelines of our communities.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe bus services Bill attempts to reregulate the bus market which is welcome.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bFranchising would allow some local transport authorities to determine, for example, the frequency and standard of service and fares.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBut we have concerns,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he warned.<\/p>\n

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As a bus worker Salam knew first-hand, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bthe disaster of privatisation and deregulation\u00c2\u00a0in\u00c2\u00a0the bus industry.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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He reported that recent polls showed a majority\u00c2\u00a0of the public think local authorities should be allowed to set up new public bus companies.<\/p>\n

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Research from Transport for Quality of Life believes \u00c2\u0141506m a year could be saved by bringing buses outside London into public ownership.<\/p>\n

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But, he added, the bus services Bill includes a clause that would ban councils in England from setting up new municipal bus companies.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat clause should be removed,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIf the government is genuinely interested in local authorities being able to meet local needs municipalisation needs to be available to all local authorities.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd there are other changes concerning bus workers that should be made to the Bill,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he warned.<\/p>\n

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He called for trade unions to be included as statutory consultees as worker representatives.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bUnion density in the bus industry is amongst the highest in the economy. Bus workers deserve to be represented as well as the bus passenger representatives who have already been given statutory consultee status.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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He expressed concern as the Bill does not appear to offer protection for new employees who are not covered by the TUPE and pension protections in the Bill.<\/p>\n

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He feared, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThis could lead to operators bidding for contracts driving down costs by cutting terms and conditions for future employees, with risks to future service delivery.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe government should regulate to protect minimum terms and conditions and pension standards for new employees who are not covered by TUPE.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Salam said Unite\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 90,000 bus workers have been\u00c2\u00a0in the forefront of\u00c2\u00a0trying to repair the damage caused by bus deregulation.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd we will be at the forefront of challenging any threats to bus services in the buses services Bill,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he pledged.<\/p>\n

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The composite was carried.<\/p>\n

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