National Express West Midlands Bus Strike

[Deerfold]

The dominance of NX in the market is clearly a factor in the union's tactics, but the irony is that if West Midlands gets franchised and NX either don't win it or don't bid because their wages are uncompetitive, the winning bidder can use that exact same leverage to re-hire these exact same drivers on far lower wages.

Unless it's classed as TUPE, which if the company is running the same routes, having taken them over from NXWM, is not unlikely.

 

[birchesgreen]

Quite funny i was reading some online comments about the strike, one said they needed to roll out the autonomous buses now on trial. I actually travelled on the trial bus in Solihull on tuesday, it couldn't handle roundabouts without human help, i suspect the outer circle will be a bit beyond it right now.

 

[Russel]

Peer pressure was definitely a factor. I voted to accept at the ballot box. There was nowhere provided to do it confidentially and it was done amongst other drivers I'm the break room area. As I was pretty much unable to hide my vote I had to defend my decision at the ballot box to drivers and reps. Fortunately I'm not a sheep and do not blindly follow the crowd. It's disgusting how the whole thing has been handled. It is not illegal nor immoral for companies to make large profits, I can never understand why it is treated so. The Union is the school playground bully in this scenario and NXWM is having his lunch money taken as 3000 drivers look on like a mob of laughing kids.

This is an almost mirror image of our ballot process last year.

My main issue though was Unite made no effort to correct any of the rumours and disinformation regarding the strikes, pay offers etc which was making those intent on striking even more hardline, this then convinced others that they were making the right decision to vote for strike action.

I was well aware of the companies financial situation so was willing to accept a smaller pay rise now to protect my job in the long term.

 

[rjames87]

Reading many of the comments above suggests the unions are doing themselves few favours right now. Have to wonder what it will do for membership going forward.

 

[birchesgreen]

I can see some poor sod stood in vain at the bus stop I can see from my window. I wonder how many people don't know about the strike. I suspect it's quite a lot.

 

[DriverNX]

Just a bit of humour for the first morning of the strikes. My fellow members of the Union at my garage decided to initially set their picket line up on the premises along with still using the company car park before being reminded and taught what and how to strike by staff on site! Like something out of a Monty Python sketch!

 

[duncanp]

Just a bit of humour for the first morning of the strikes. My fellow members of the Union at my garage decided to initially set their picket line up on the premises along with still using the company car park before being reminded and taught what and how to strike by staff on site! Like something out of a Monty Python sketch!

Will they be allowed to use the toilets on site during the day?

The company website has crashed, with people trying to find out what is going on.

 

[DriverNX]

No they cannot go onto company premises if they are on strike. Walsall Garage have already had to call the police the attend the picket due to illegal behaviour.

 

[duncanp]

I can see some poor sod stood in vain at the bus stop I can see from my window. I wonder how many people don't know about the strike. I suspect it's quite a lot.

It doesn't help if Live Depatures board gives the impression that services are still running, eg:-

Departures for Lordswood Rd (Stop BV), on Hagley Road West, Bearwood [nwmapjtg]​

11 departures - 20/03/2023 08:27:01​

[Refresh Departures]

9	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:28
X8	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:31
X10	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:36
9	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:38
9	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:48
X8	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:51
X10	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 08:58
9	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 09:01
X8	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 09:11
9	Birmingham, Colmore Row (Stop SH2) at 09:13

 

[birchesgreen]

It doesn't help if Live Depatures board gives the impression that services are still running,

Thats bad, a local bus stop i passed earlier did have it's departures screen showing no services though.

 

[duncanp]

Thats bad, a local bus stop i passed earlier did have it's departures screen showing no services though.

These were live departures from Traveline, and are also what you get if you send a text to the number shown at the bus stop.

This gives a false impression to those who turn up at the bus stop.

 

[Typhoon]

No they cannot go onto company premises if they are on strike. Walsall Garage have already had to call the police the attend the picket due to illegal behaviour.

This does not bode well for a swift resolution.

 

[birchesgreen]

These were live departures from Traveline, and are also what you get if you send a text to the number shown at the bus stop.

This gives a false impression to those who turn up at the bus stop.

TfWM app is correct, i guess. It shows no information available for a stop, though doesn't say why. You could easily assume (not knowing about the strike) that the app wasn't working.

 

[DriverNX]

I've passed a number of bus stops this morning and fairly large quantities of people are still standing and waiting at bus stops.

 

[Sprinter107]

No they cannot go onto company premises if they are on strike. Walsall Garage have already had to call the police the attend the picket due to illegal behaviour.

Did they not realise they were not allowed on company premises, or did it just not bother them? We have a note from Aslef reminding us about this on strike days. I'd have thought your union would've made that quite clear like ours do.

 

[DriverNX]

They obviously didn't know. They turned up in their cars and thought they could use the car park and then continued to set up the picket line within the company premises.

They have also illegally blocked any vehicles from exiting the premises this morning resulting in the need for police presence.

 

[Sprinter107]

They obviously didn't know. They turned up in their cars and thought they could use the car park and then continued to set up the picket line within the company premises.

They have also illegally blocked any vehicles from exiting the premises this morning resulting in the need for police presence.

Your Reps should've made the position quite clear. They've not done their jobs properly.

 

[birchesgreen]

Did they not realise they were not allowed on company premises, or did it just not bother them. We have a note from Aslef reminding us about this on strike days. Id have thought your union wouldve made that quite clear like ours do.

As a Unite member (though not in the bus industry) i'm not really surprised they didn't.

 

[LowLevel]

About 50 buses tracking between NXWM and Coventry across the whole West Midlands - that's quite some impact.

 

[Sprinter107]

I was on the bus yesterday, and the driver was being asked questions about the dispute ftom some passengers and I must say, remained very professional, and answered everyone in a very courteous manner. Top marks to him.

 

[DriverNX]

Please also bear in mind these buses are going to be carrying, among other passengers, hospital workers and other key workers. The driver on the picket claim to care about the situation passengers are in but refuse to take responsibility. Typical Union position really.

I was on the bus yesterday, and the driver was being asked questions about the dispute ftom some passengers and I must say, remained very professional, and answered everyone in a very courteous manner. Top marks to him.

Which bus were you on? It may have been me!

 

[Sprinter107]

Please also bear in mind these buses are going to be carrying, among other passengers, hospital workers and other key workers. The driver on the picket claim to care about the situation passengers are in but refuse to take responsibility. Typical Union position really.


Which bus were you on? It may have been me!

It was a 9.

 

[DriverNX]

It was a 9.

Not me then. I was on a 51.

 

[Deerfold]

Please also bear in mind these buses are going to be carrying, among other passengers, hospital workers and other key workers. The driver on the picket claim to care about the situation passengers are in but refuse to take responsibility. Typical Union position really.


Which bus were you on? It may have been me!

Does that mean they shouldn't ever strike?

There are those who will always blame the union, whereas the situation is usually more nuanced.

Here it sounds like it's a bit of both, with the company unnecessarily antagonising drivers and union members.

 

[DriverNX]

My point was if you are going to strike ensure you are following the law. I still have respect for those striking. As a driver I have asked a number of my colleagues why they think 33 grand isn't a fair salary and not one has answered the question with any real substance or valid points. You just get a blanket schpiel that has been fed to us from the Union. I'm sorry but I drive buses. It is the easiest job I've ever had and also the highest paid despite spending a number of years within management roles up until only 6 years ago. 33 grand for my job amounting to a 14.3% increase is not an unfair offer. How that opinion can differ is beyond me. The Union has fed its members with propaganda, exaggerations and misinformation along with adding huge amounts of pressure to drivers to continue to strike.

Yes the company has made big mistakes, their first offer was a joke and on that basis I voted to strike. The company lied about the basic maths surrounding the offer to make it look better than it was and threatened us with job cuts if we failed to accept quickly. Had NXWM come to the table with the latest offer from the beginning I think Unite would have snapped their arm off for it. Unfortunately in this case it is the journey that had got us to our destination. I'm not blind to the companies mistakes and sometimes poor treatment of drivers but this strike is about pay and nothing else as my union keeps banging on to me. NXWM has changed and improved the offer 3 times in very quick succession to try and prevent strike so I do not think this strike tips to the fault of my employer as much as it does Unite. It is almost as if, (and I'm not a conspiracist) that the Unions have a bigger agenda to cause civil unrest among certain areas of our society in order to tip the next General election in their favour.

 

[Liam L]

No they cannot go onto company premises if they are on strike. Walsall Garage have already had to call the police the attend the picket due to illegal behaviour.

Police also called to Birmingham Central too by the looks of it. https://twitter.com/bbcwm/status/1637717518088282112?s=46&t=yU-dmSoS4ooGPaORB-_prw

 

[LowLevel]

Not seen a picket line that active for years! Our railway ones, despite the media's attempts to demonise them, are generally friendly well mannered affairs typified by the managers popping out for a coffee at some point.

 

[M803UYA]

Police also called to Birmingham Central too by the looks of it. https://twitter.com/bbcwm/status/1637717518088282112?s=46&t=yU-dmSoS4ooGPaORB-_prw

That video shows pickets obstructing buses - they're inviting the police to arrest them for obstruction and breach of the peace. It takes one rule book officer.....

 

[duncanp]

My point was if you are going to strike ensure you are following the law. I still have respect for those striking. As a driver I have asked a number of my colleagues why they think 33 grand isn't a fair salary and not one has answered the question with any real substance or valid points. You just get a blanket schpiel that has been fed to us from the Union. I'm sorry but I drive buses. It is the easiest job I've ever had and also the highest paid despite spending a number of years within management roles up until only 6 years ago. 33 grand for my job amounting to a 14.3% increase is not an unfair offer. How that opinion can differ is beyond me. The Union has fed its members with propaganda, exaggerations and misinformation along with adding huge amounts of pressure to drivers to continue to strike.

Yes the company has made big mistakes, their first offer was a joke and on that basis I voted to strike. The company lied about the basic maths surrounding the offer to make it look better than it was and threatened us with job cuts if we failed to accept quickly. Had NXWM come to the table with the latest offer from the beginning I think Unite would have snapped their arm off for it. Unfortunately in this case it is the journey that had got us to our destination. I'm not blind to the companies mistakes and sometimes poor treatment of drivers but this strike is about pay and nothing else as my union keeps banging on to me. NXWM has changed and improved the offer 3 times in very quick succession to try and prevent strike so I do not think this strike tips to the fault of my employer as much as it does Unite. It is almost as if, (and I'm not a conspiracist) that the Unions have a bigger agenda to cause civil unrest among certain areas of our society in order to tip the next General election in their favour.

So what do you think it would take to settle the dispute?

An increase in the pay offer, and if so by how much?

In a somewhat ironic moment just now I went out to do some shopping, and there was a National Express West Midlands training bus coming along the road, with a trainee driver and instructor on board. Are they not affected by the strike?

 

[DriverNX]

Trainees who have not yet passed training I guess would not be affected. Personally I think anything lower than £17 an hour plus some benefits will not go through at this stage.