Strike vote at bus depot

James Kell • Published 1 Oct 2009 11:00 0 Comments

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READING Buses was embroiled in fresh turmoil this week as staff prepared to vote on strike action amid deep unrest over the company's future.

Staff held a crunch meeting on Sunday to thrash out plans for industrial action and an insider at Reading Buses told the Midweek: "The ballot papers are out and there are two options to choose. One is work to rule and one is an out-and-out strike, but most people are ticking both boxes and leaving it for the union to decide."

Work to rule would mean drivers observing all regulations on checking tickets and passes to the letter in a deliberate bid to slow down services.

The source said: "Feelings are still running high."

The ballot closes on Saturday, October 10, bringing to a head long-standing grievances over the way the company is being run, including plans to put drivers aged over 65 on notice for their jobs from November and job cuts at the company's Newbury arm.

The source said: "There are many ongoing issues about the way the company has been run since chief executive James Freeman has been there. The rebranding has been a nightmare - I know people who have been left without vehicles to drive because they weren't the appropriate colour."

Mr Freeman has cited the recession and a drop in passenger numbers as the cause of Reading Buses' difficulties. It has slashed services to try to stem losses of £10,000 a week. But the insider said drivers questioned whether there had been such a significant drop in passengers.

A Reading Transport spokesman said: "We've been working to put things in place to deal with very tough trading conditions. The benefits of that action are beginning to flow through.

"People are worried about the recession and what it might mean for their jobs, but the situation is that in order to run services as they are, we're actually about eight drivers short - so even if there are further service reductions next year, we will not need to make bus drivers redundant as it stands. Reading Borough Council and the board of directors back what we are doing.

"There have been service reductions but overall the company is strong and there is nothing odd about what's happening. In any business, over time, people move on, making it possible to downsize."

The spokesman said of the possible industrial action: "Any move which causes disruption to services damages the crucial relationship between Reading Buses and its customers."

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