The Workers Party of Britain salutes the decision by 4,000 Metroline bus drivers to conduct rolling strikes across London unless bosses once and for all abandon the so called “remote sign on” method of working.
Metroline, which operates services in the north and west of the city, wants to boost its profits by changing the way drivers book on for a shift. Up until the change, drivers have signed on at the depot. This has a number of obvious practical advantages. At the depot checks can be made to make sure the driver is okay to drive a bus, and there is access to proper toilets, canteen and rest area. If a driver is late or a bus breaks down, the depot is able to provide back-up – so long as everyone books in at the depot.
The Singapore-owned company is seemingly blind to these practical considerations, clearly more concerned with cutting corners and racking up profits for its shareholders. Under the new regime drivers are expected to make their way across London to find the relevant bus stop and wait there, in all weathers, for the connecting bus. This barmy scheme increases travelling times, exhausts already hard-pressed drivers and ultimately compromises the safety of the travelling public.
So daft are these management proposals that London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged a stay of execution pending review, but Metroline has stated that “remote sign on” is only on pause. In response to this intransigence, drivers have voted in huge numbers to go on strike unless Metroline gives a clear undertaking by 10 May that they are ditching these lunatic plans for good. The Workers Party of Britain wishes the drivers every success and stands ready to help in any way possible.