THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL PAY on London buses saw solid strikes in January and

February. It was clear from the response of members on the picket lines that Unite’s demand was one they were proud to get behind.

Some members were unsure of the decision to pull back strikes for talks when none were being offered.

Since then, Unite’s efforts to get negotiations going with the bus operators and Transport for London over a fair pay structure for drivers has led to some meetings involving the employers and TfL.

It was positive that the union used the space to organise “drive up pay” meetings in many areas during the last few months to continue to put its case to members.

But the bosses’ refusal to make even the most limited progress means this phase of inaction needs to end. Unite leaders were right to withdrew on that basis from a further meeting planned for 27 April and Unite’s regional secretary Peter Kavanagh has stated the union will be “considering our next course of action”.

Meetings But members were frustrated to come out the last London-wide Unite bus reps’ meeting at the beginning of May with still no dates for strikes.

The most recent communication from the union makes it clear that there is no sign of the bosses entering collective discussions over pay at this stage. Unite’s 7 May update states that reps have made it clear that if progress isn’t made, the fight should be back on with more action called. This a good signal to members to expect more action. Members should organise inside Unite to get strikes called now.

After the election disaster of a Tory majority government, we know the next five years will see working class people under siege from continuing austerity attacks on pay, conditions and services.

During the last bus strikes members showed they were up for a serious fight to win on fair pay

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NAME STRIKE DATES NOW FOR FAIR PAY

Bus bosses haven’t shifted... we need to escalate the fightback...

Labour lost the election because they failed to offer an alternative to austerity and echoed the Tories’ and Ukip’s racist attacks on migrants.

Their defeat was not a result of being “too left-wing”.

Labour’s historic demise in Scotland in the election shows this, where the SNP won a landslide victory through putting anti-austerity arguments and saying migrants are not to blame for the crisis.

HopeUnion leaders across our movement demobilised strikes over pay at a national level on the basis that a Labour government was our best bet.

This was a serious mistake. National coordinated strikes against austerity could have made a real difference, reshaping the terrain of the election.

As millions now feel deflated and angry after the horror of waking up to another five years of the Tories, a London-wide bus strike can give hope and confidence to workers everywhere.

Previous strikes were a brilliant display of the strength our unions have to fight for working class people.

They brought the injustice of massive pay differentials and a two-tier workforce to the public’s notice.

Hard-hittingThe bosses and TfL have had months to enter into a serious process. They refused to take the chance we offered.

Unite leaders are right to gear towards more action. Now we urgently need the dates for hard-hitting strikes for every member to get behind and build a strong turn out in every garage.

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