Strike Action

[ellspurs]

So from that thread:

Unite have refused to put the latest pay offer out to vote (which I can say I've had drivers I know say that) and NX was threatening redundancies on previous pay offers?

They're both as bad as each other.

[MW]

Manley Summers (driver agency) have sent out a message specifically calling for ex NX Coventry drivers to contact them for a temporary contract commencing Monday at £18 per hour.

They've never specified that they want former drivers before, so this must be a direct response to the strikes next week.

[Solo1]

Why have unite not put it to the members 

[Coventrybususer95]

Why have unite not put it to the members

Good question they probably think by striking they can get a higer % offer from nx 

[don]

Why have unite not put it to the members

For the same reason the Government don't put items before Conservative Party members before Parliament (and in some cases not even before Parliament).

It's what's called representation.

Btw, it'll be difficult to rely on any bus service during a strike - Agencies or not. Remember agency workers don't get the level of paid holiday, sick pay etc etc so getting under £7 per hr more than a Costa Barista (not to demean Costa staff - it's just an example) for such a responsible job is hardly brilliant. Some of us may have views on companies trying to make a swift buck out of an industrial dispute (morally bereft etc!!!) as well.

[Mike K]

This thread with comments from 'DriverNX' give a good indication how drivers feel & what their issues are:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/national-express-west-midlands-bus-strike.244225/

Interesting read which provides some context and background to the dispute. Balanced and considered input from 'DriverNX'. Does seem that drivers consider themselves to be poorly treated by NX though. The part about the threat of redundancies is bizarre; they're unable to recruit or retain drivers so aren't in a position of strength to be using that as a bargaining tool. 

[Kevin_Brum12]

Manley Summers (driver agency) have sent out a message specifically calling for ex NX Coventry drivers to contact them for a temporary contract commencing Monday at £18 per hour.

They've never specified that they want former drivers before, so this must be a direct response to the strikes next week.

Stagecoach Warwickshire planning to run services on NXC main corridors during the strikes from Nuneaton????

[Straightlines]

Stagecoach Warwickshire planning to run services on NXC main corridors during the strikes from Nuneaton????

Nuneaton can't run their own services, they have agency in covering existing work.

[Kevin_Brum12]

This thread with comments from 'DriverNX' give a good indication how drivers feel & what their issues are:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/national-express-west-midlands-bus-strike.244225/

Balanced and possibly nearer the views of NX drivers.

A lot of dissatisfaction with the company for failing to deliver the changes to shifts and rotas that were promised, which if they had been adopted would have enabled drivers to have a better work-life balance and would have helped with driver retention and stopped the churn of training drivers only to lose them a few months later.  No wonder so much mileage is being lost and the service so unreliable.

Dissatisfaction with UNITE too, who to be blunt have been abysmal at representing the interests of their members properly at work for years and too busy playing politics in the Labour Party (bringing us the leadership of Miliband and Corbyn). This may be why  the pay and conditions across the bus industry have not kept pace with other sectors.

UNITE's intentions have been laid bare by the revelation that the latest offer from NXWM has not been put to a ballot.  If so, it could be argued the ballot for industrial action was invalid and not based on the offer put and an injunction applied for at the High Court.  NX need to get their skates on. 

"A plague on both their houses", as a writer from Stratford-upon-Avon once said.  Trouble is, it is the bus passengers and the drivers who are in the middle of this battle between a poor management and a poor union.

[Kevin_Brum12]

Nuneaton can't run their own services, they have agency in covering existing work.

Same agency though???

Under Industrial Relations laws, you cannot take on agency workers specifically to cover staff taking industrial action, so it can't be NXC for the continuous strike.

[MW]

Same agency though???

Under Industrial Relations laws, you cannot take on agency workers specifically to cover staff taking industrial action, so it can't be NXC for the continuous strike.

Manley Summers is recruiting ex NXC drivers for NXC. You must be able to start Monday.

So yes, it is NXC.

[Kevin_Brum12]

Manley Summers is recruiting ex NXC drivers for NXC. You must be able to start Monday.

So yes, it is NXC.

Starting work before the strike days. Wonder how that will go down with the existing Coventry staff.

Also, what happens if the strike is called off?

Of course, NX will be paying extra too as they are paying the wages and a pretty penny to the agency.  Higher costs which won't be recouped with fares as they are.

[winston]

Latest Unite Statement:
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/march/national-express-blasted-for-union-busting-bullying-to-break-coming-strike-of-midlands-bus-workers/

"NX have Billions in the bank apparently....." 🤔🤣🤣

[Coventrybususer95]

Latest Unite Statement:
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2023/march/national-express-blasted-for-union-busting-bullying-to-break-coming-strike-of-midlands-bus-workers/

Wonder if we could get a statement from the company about the allegations made in this statement

[2206]

Services running on strike days:
BC 97 X21 (City to Weoley Castle only), PB 28 (Old Oscott to Heartlands only) X4, YW 6, AG 4.
 WN 59 529, PN 6. WB 5 87 (City to Oldbury only), WA 51.
https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/service-updates/strike-action-from-16th-march-2023
28 and X4 hourly. 97 every half hour, X21 every 40 mins. As expected late night services are also suspended.

Is there any chance that 28 could be rerouted to allow it to have a double decker platinum possibly?