The London Bus Rank-and-File Committee and the Socialist Equality Party are calling for the reinstatement of London bus driver David O’Sullivan, sacked for upholding workers’ rights to health and safety during a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 60 bus workers in the capital.
The death rate among London bus drivers is three times the national average, with the families of those killed demanding answers.
In London, Berlin, Paris, New York, Sao Paulo and India, bus and transport workers are fighting back. O’Sullivan’s sacking is a test case for the rights of key workers everywhere. Join the campaign today!
O’Sullivan, 57, was sacked on February 3, after he sounded the alarm over the spread of COVID-19 infections at Cricklewood bus garage in north west London. The rate of fatalities among London bus drivers is three times the national average, with the families of those killed demanding answers.
Since the Transport Workers Action Committee published a statement in support of its candidates for the staff council elections at Berlin’s regional transport provider (BVG), a lively discussion has been taking place among workers at the company.
This is the third major rail contract to have been rejected in recent weeks, following the defeat of another SMART-TD deal with Norfolk Southern and the rejection by maintenance of way workers of a contract at CSX.
UPS announced that it has closed 45 operations and reduced daily capacity by 1 million parcels as it shifted operations to automated facilities.
The fact that the vote passed by such a slim margin shows how much opposition remains in the rank and file. Workers were not convinced to support the deal so much as threatened and blackmailed by the IAM and Boeing.
Management at Berlin’s BVG local transit company has decided to postpone the reintroduction of front boarding. Drivers must ensure front doors remain closed until they agree it is safe.
The massive “no” vote registered at Park Royal, Stamford Brook and Shepherds Bush speaks to a growing mood of opposition to Unite’s record of collusion.
The refusal of Unite to outline the deal and organise a ballot can only mean that what is being proposed is so toxic that Unite is working frantically on how to sell it to the Go North West drivers and to prevent an angry backlash.
“We are not cattle and will not be sacrificed to protect the profits of the corporations and banks who have made a financial killing during the pandemic,” states the resolution passed by the London Bus Drivers Rank-and-File Safety Committee.
