Unite bus workers strike against First Cymru

By Alec Thraves

Unite bus workers have begun a series of planned strikes after overwhelmingly
rejecting the company’s measly pay offer, their refusal to honour back pay and to
improve poor working conditions.
First Cymru is part of the highly profitable First Group transport network which made
over £200 million profit last year.
First Cymru is notorious for paying some of the lowest wages in the transport
industry and has also enforced a two-tier wages system where new recruits are paid
an even lower rate for their first twelve months of employment.
A wage of just £13.45 an hour, just above the national minimum wage, is a disgrace
for skilled workers who have to navigate outdated vehicles and protect the safety of
thousands of passengers.
One of the young strikers remarked that he regularly transported jam packed, double
decker buses of students from their Swansea halls to campus but gets paid less than
his shopworker partner.
The strike was solid across South West Wales with big picket lines at the Swansea
depot where just six buses out of the normal sixty-seven a day left the depot and
scabbed.
Across South West Wales from Bridgend to Haverfordwest, Unite members have
responded magnificently to the call for action.
And little wonder when they look across the Bristol channel and see First Bus
workers in Bristol earning up to £3 an hour more than themselves and driving a
modern, up to date fleet of vehicles.
After these 4 days of strike action, another 4 days are planned from November 5th
and unless First Cymru concede to Unite’s demands then the industrial action
fireworks could continue till over Xmas.