A THREE-day strike by bus workers at Warrington will have a “catastrophic” impact on the town’s bus company, the management warned today.
Although Unite the Union have not notified Network Warrington of the dates of the stoppage, it is understood the plan is for a three-day strike on November 13, 14 and 15.
In a statement issued today, the company says its proposals, put to the workforce at a union branch meeting on Monday, were a “last ditch” effort to resolve the dispute.
Up until then, the board, the management team and the shareholder – Warrington Borough Council – had remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached.
The dispute initially began over a proposed 12 month pay freeze – the first pay freeze in 16 years.
Industrial action started as a “Work to Rule” and then escalated to strike action, following the company not being able to meet staff demands.
The series of one day strikes have taken place and despite several attempts by the company to bring about a settlement.
Crucially, the company say, the board and management team have made every attempt to resolve the dispute and have continually sought the help of the conciliation service ACAS to assist with negotiations.
However, while the company hope that further meetings will be held over the next few days, there is no prospect of returning again to meet with ACAS to revisit the offer that has been put on the table.
The company continues to work very closely with Unite the Union and non-union members of the workforce in the hope of bringing the dispute to an end.
The statement adds: “The Board and Network Warrington’s management team are trying to bring some economic truth and reality to the staff. The future employment for all staff is now in serious jeopardy if the industrial action continues to escalate.
“The company sincerely apologises to customers for the inconvenience caused by the industrial action.”
The Network Warrington website – www.networkwarrington.co.uk – will be updated regularly to notify customers of any services running on strike days.
Meanwhile, rebel Labour councillor Kevin Bennett, who is currently suspended from the Labour group on the borough council, has been talking to union members.
Cllr Bennett said the union claimed untruths were being put out by the company.
The company claimed only 30 members had attended a union meeting when it was agreed to escalate the strikes when in fact there were more than 100 present.
Workers say although the company claimed to have no money they had found funding to appoint another accountant.
Cllr Bennett said: “The union says it is playing strictly by the rules – more than can be said for the management.”
A THREE-day strike by bus workers at Warrington will have a
“catastrophic” impact on the town’s bus company, the management warned
today.
Three-day bus strike will be catastrophic
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
Unite the Union is increasingly being seen as an irresponsible union and this dispute puts it beyond all doubt. It’s high time the company sacked the lot of them, re-staffed with non-union (or perhaps from another union) and got on with running a bus company.To take such aggressive industrial action over a pay freeze for one year when there are thousands out there who haven’t got a job, or haven’t had a pay rise for years, is absurd
Sounds as if the union rep is trying to make a name for himself ad conning the members to support it. No winners in this and the public will look elsewhere.
Rent-a-Gob Bennett waffling on again about a dispute that has got sod all to do with him
No good will come of a strike that prevents the sick and disabled from moving around and denying people the right to earn a living by being able to get to work. The people of Warrington deserve better than this. Let’s have another company run the buses in Warrington and get rid of this shambles.
Going on longer than expected that’s for sure but can’t help thinking that public support is now diminishing. Like already said there are many people not getting pay rises these days and some are taking reductions or working longer hours too just to keep their jobs safe and the businesses they work for from going under until things pick up and there are probably even more who are unemployed who are eager to learn, train and willing to take on any jobs……… Not sure what Cllr Bennett is on about or why he is becoming involved as I only know about what I have seen in the press reports so maybe there is more to it all than people are being told or maybe not…… All that said though yesterdays’ news reported how the latest offer from Network Warrington bosses had also been rejected. It quoted figures of 70 against the latest offer, 50 in favour and 50 % of the remaining union members not actually bothering to vote either way (some 140+ people?). Surely that meant that there are only around 20 union members intent on sticking it out and backing the union and further strikes?
Have you seen the competitions buses David ‘ talk about shake rattle and roll’ is’nt in it .Lets not forget that council money was recently put in to Network Warrington to bail the firm out. So they actually belong to the tax payers of this town
I frequently use the competitions buses and they are far from all shake rattle and roll. The competition for example provide three services between Leigh and Wigan, the 600, 598 and 658, all of which operate every few minutes throughout the day. Our “award” winning bus company has a job to operate one service an hour to Leigh.
Warrington can only lose from this -I mean the town as a whole. Without buses the retail side will get deeper into the mire with more shops going to the wall.
Many people already go to Widnes, free convenient parking and an ever improving mix of shops and leisure activities.
This industrial dispute can only increase the trend. It's not just about the bus company and its employees its about the town and it needs sorting yesterday!