Bus summit in Manchester ignores workers as Bee Network strikes loom

Unite, the UK's leading union representing workers in passenger transport, has blasted the UK Bus Summit for failing to include workers' voices.

The event, held yesterday (September 11), brought together key voices in the sector, but the voices of bus workers were excluded from the event, sending a message that the rights of bus workers are not high on the agenda. 

The Bus Summit is taking place in Greater Manchester, home of the Bee Network. However, there will be large-scale disruption to bus services in the area from Friday, September 19 to Monday, September 22 as over 2,000 Unite members working for the Bee Network will walk out in a co-ordinated strike over pay. 

There are also bus strikes set to take place in the Home Counties and Birkenhead, Chorley and Preston in the coming weeks, while Unite members working for First Bus in Bristol and the surrounding areas are currently awaiting the outcome of a ballot to see whether or not they will suspend their strikes due to take place next week. 

Unite has constantly raised issues with bus firms about the poor pay and conditions facing bus workers. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Without including the voices of workers, the Bus Summit is little more than an echo chamber where employers are slapping themselves on the back. 

"While bus firms generate high profits, workers contend with low pay and terrible conditions with fatigue, daily abuse and a lack of toilets and proper breaks an everyday occurrence. 

“Unite is challenging low pay and poor conditions for bus workers throughout the UK and it is consistently winning better pay and better conditions.  Bus companies must listen and improve pay and conditions for their workers. Unite never takes a backward step, when fighting for our members." 

Unite is also campaigning for improvements to rest breaks, toilet facilities and exhausting shift patterns to reduce dangerous and endemic fatigue.  

Bus drivers are more likely to suffer mental and physical ill health than other professions due to the stressful nature of the job. 

The Bus Summit will also discuss franchising, with many regional mayors across England moving to transform their bus networks in a similar way to that seen in Greater Manchester. In Wales, the Bill for Franchising bus services is due for Royal Assent early next year and the low rates of pay in the sector raise fears of a race to the bottom on pay and conditions. 

Unite national officer for passenger transport Wayne King added: "While employers are attending the Bus Summit to crow about their achievements, our members are struggling with the cost of living crisis and suffering from ill health caused by their working conditions. 

"Unite must automatically be involved in any discussions around franchising. We will not allow workers to pay for this and pay and conditions must be improved and standardised across the sector as we approach franchising. 

"Next year's Bus Summit must include the voice of workers at the coalface of the industry. Without this, it is just employers paying lip service."