Taxi Driver Online

Bus strike in South London
By Martina Smit

Thousands of bus passengers were left stranded today as drivers in South London started a 24-hour strike.

The stoppage by almost 100 Centra bus workers brought busy services in Richmond, Tooting, Kingston, Purley, Mitcham and Croydon to a standstill.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union called the stoppage, from 4.30am today to 4.29am tomorrow, in a dispute over pay and conditions.

All 93 workers at the Centra bus depot in Croydon, owned by Central Parking Systems (CPS), were ordered not to book on for shifts.

Affected routes include numbers 127, 152, 200, 201, 493 and K5.

"Our claim is for a basic £500 weekly wage," said RMT general secretary Bob Crow.

Other demands include sick leave from the first work day and full pay for victims of assaults at work.

"Rather than threaten our members with dismissal for taking perfectly lawful industrial action the company should be negotiating a settlement to what are perfectly reasonable demands," Crow added.

But Centra Buses said its drivers receive "one of the highest hourly rates within London".

The company added that the RMT is not the recognised union for its workers and does not have the right to negotiate on their behalf.

Almost 150 of Centra's 205 drivers belong to the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU).

"Centra London does not deem it necessary to form alliances with other unions," a spokesman said.

The TGWU also condemned the strike. "It is the TGWU which has negotiating rights at Centra, not the RMT," said regional secretary Eddie McDermott.

"Their action at Centra is unacceptable and, quite frankly, can only damage the interests of bus workers at that company.

A second action is planned for May 20.



And long may it last, the 'yellow's' were working their socks off today, even the old mini-cabs must have been smiling.

Lets hope it spreads to the rest of the capital 24/7.

I was in London today GBC, and I was very impressed with the quality of LPH. In fact I didn't see one bad car with a disc in.

However I wasn't too pleased with taking three hours to get from Kings Cross to the A22.

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IDFIMH

Pop up to London at 1 in the morning, around the Charing Cross road area, again you will see all the nice cars with discs in their windows, this time however you will notice they all have this great desire to engage you in conversation, friendly is'nt it?

Thats not bad going Sussex, from posting at 5am this morning, sleep, up to London, stuck in traffic, and back to Eastbourne for posting at 6pm!

How is the tardis?

A trade united in friendship. Who could ask for more?

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IDFIMH

London you can poke it were the sun dont shine.
Most of us try our best to talk ourselves out of London work.
Best to just take them to Gatwick and they can get the quick Gatwick express.
They thanks you for saving them money.
I dont think so.

Oh if i'm at the Flyers, Brighton trips are always welcome on my list of destinantions Mr Gull.

bit like me when i dropp off at heathrow.
I desperately try and find someone coming back to here.

Better watch out for the Metropolitan Police tout squad then, or it'll be 'Jail Bird' and not 'c gull'.

we charge £80 to heathrow.
i nbet you charge nearer £140.