Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
From 5am Thursday September 25th 2008 Tramways Union drivers at GO Wellington will be locked out!
The Tramways Union will be picketing the Go Wellington Bus Depot in Onepu Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington (near the Pak 'n' Save). The Lockout starts at 5am 25/9/08 and will continue until teh company come back with a better offer. Workers will be picketing the depot for the duration of the lockout.
The drivers need solidarity. Come to the Onepu Rd depot and stand with the drivers.
The starting rate for a Wellington Bus driver is $12.72 an hour. Its time to fight back against poverty wages.
Nick Kelly
Wellington Tramways Union
Contact:
ph 021584294
socialist42@hotmail.com
Comments
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
Obviously it should say "until the company" not "until teh company".
But hey its late, I'm tired and locked out - I'm allowed to hit the wrong key ;-)
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
12.72 thats pitiful ,and all the council can say is it damages the citys reputation ,never mind that these ppl have to work long hours on shit money ,while council fat cats on large salarys sit in their ivory tower,lets see them survive and feed their families on that sort of money and see how long they last !
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
Somebody passed on an e-mail yesterday from Go Wellington sent to schools that slagged off the drivers. In particular it said:
"This is extremely disappointing for us as it is our firm belief that the place to negotiate is at the negotiating table, not through industrial activity or through the media."
Apart from the company not knowing the difference between "industrial activity" and "industrial action", the hypocrisy of moaning about "negotiating... through the media" while they take out ads in the Dominion Post attacking the drivers is amzing.
Cheers
Sam Buchanan
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
Hi Sam,
Any chance of getting all of the contents of the email posted up here?
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
This was Go Wellington's e-mail:
Notice to Schools
No Go Wellington bus services to run
Thursday 25 September
Intermittent industrial strike activity taken by the Tramways & M&C Union has created chaos for commuters today.
This intermittent industrial strike action has two implications for our Go Wellington bus customers as follows -
· services scheduled to depart during these times do not run
· widespread disruption is created for bus travellers as services struggle to return to normal
Throughout Tuesday, we have been communicating with our people and the union to avert industrial activity. We have no desire to see strike action impact our customers.
We asked that the union seriously reconsider the offer prior to taking this drastic action. Additionally, we have said that we are available to return to the negotiating table or attend mediation. The Union have communicated that they will not withdraw their planned strike activity.
As a result, we regret to advise that we have provided the Union with 24 hours notice of our intention to lock them out. This is a last resort for Go Wellington, which we are now compelled to initiate because the union has begun strike action aimed at securing more than the best offer the company is in a position to make and to create the maximum disruption possible for our customers.
There will be no GO Wellington bus services provided from 5.30am on Thursday, 25 September until further notice.
This impacts school bus services.
No school bus services will run Thursday 25 September until further notice.
This is extremely disappointing for us as it is our firm belief that the place to negotiate is at the negotiating table, not through industrial activity or through the media. Go Wellington remains committed to a return to negotiation and normal operations as soon as possible
We apologise unreservedly for the disruption
Bruce Kenyon
GM Go Wellington
Re: Locked out drivers - solidarity needed
Don't expect the right-wing WCC to support the bus drivers, or anyone else except their rich cronies.