Supporting striking RMT workers

The RMT has confirmed two strike dates and further action short of a strike following a massive mandate from members in a ballot of groups of staff on First Devon and Cornwall buses in a dispute over pay.

Relevant members are not to book on for any duty commencing between 00:01 and 23:59 hours on Friday 26th October 2012, and again between 00:01 and 23:59 hours on Friday 9th November 2012. Relevant members are not to work any unscheduled overtime or rest days between 00:01 hours on Sunday 11th November and 23:59 hours on Saturday 17th November 2012.

The action follows the rejection of this year's long overdue pay offer. The company proposal is self-funding – meaning it would have no cost impact on the company and ring-fences their profits.
It includes the loss of paid walking time, the removal of time to do a visual "walk round" check when taking a bus over mid shift and the dilution of the sick pay benefits. This follows on from the removal of the final salary section of the pension scheme, already implemented despite fierce union objections.
In this weeks ballot result RMT members voted by almost 85% for strike action and by over 90% for action short of a strike.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “This weeks massive mandate for action by RMT members on First Devon and Cornwall buses reflects their anger at the failure to come up with a serious pay offer and the attempt to bind up what is on the table with a whole load of strings to make it self-financing at the expense of the workforce.
"The fact that we have been forced to ballot and put this action on is solely down to the failure of the management side to understand the anger of their workforce. The company must take this situation seriously and get round the table with RMT to negotiate a settlement and the sooner those talks commence the better.
“Bus services and bus workers in the South West are under a series of attacks as the companies attempt to ramp up and protect profits at the expense of the staff and that situation cannot continue. "

South West England  Cornwall Green Left will be sending messages of solidarity to striking workers and where possible joining picket lines to distribute copies of The Eco-Socialist.

South West Green Left head for London

Devon Green Left member Lynton North, spreads the eco-socialist message

Saturday October 20^th saw members of the Green Left in Devon carrying placards, boarding coaches and to London for the TUC’s ‘A Future that Works’ demonstration.

The march, estimated at 150,000 strong, brought the centre of the capital to a standstill and was a massive show of strength and solidarity in opposition to the ConDems assault on the ordinary people.  Hundreds of Green Party placards were clearly noticeable amongst the marchers, with the first issue of ‘The Eco-Socialist’ newspaper being distributed and well received.

The battle against austerity measures and the evils of capitalism needs to be at the heart of Green politics and coupled with the fight to bring about an egalitarian, eco-socialist society. South West England & Cornwall Green left recognise this will not come about from the niceties of politics or holding tea parties, but only through struggle and positioning ourselves at the heart of that struggle. In this we recognise action and fighting cutbacks is perhaps more important than simply targeting electoral success and being just another political machine.

Romayne Phoenix on the march

GREEN LEFT SUPPORTERS JOIN LOBBY OF TORBAY COUNCIL 

BEFORE DISCUSSION OF LIVING WAGE MOTION

Pictured are Green Party activists, including Green Left supporters,  joining Labour and Independent councillors and trade unionists in support of the TUC Living Wage Campaign.  The issue has now been referred to the policy development group for further consideration. At the same meeting of 27 September, surprisingly Torbay's Tory executive Mayor expressed his opposition to regional pay !!

The campaign goes on. Now the focus turns to the October 20 and the TUC's 'A Future That Works' London March and Rally. Show your opposition to the ConDems - be there !

Barrie Wood
Secretary - Torbay TUC
Torbay Green Party and Green Left