Travel disruption continues today as bus workers go on strike for the second day in a row. Bus workers in Cornwall are continuing to man picket lines in protest to what they say is a paltry pay offer from First Bus.
Dozens of members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers trade union (RMT) are at picket lines in Truro, Camborne and Penzance for the second day of two-day industrial action over pay and better working conditions.
The strike action was announced last Friday after pay talks with First Bus failed with the RMT saying it had been available for talks up to the last minute when First Bus never took them up on their offer of meaningful negotiations. Eddie Dempsey, RMT's senior assistant general secretary, has been visiting the picket lines in the county today, first starting at the bus station in Truro before heading west to Camborne and Penzance. From the bus station in Truro he said the industrial action had come because First Bus had refused to make any "sensible pay offer".
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He added: "This is a company that refuses to make a sensible offer on pay for its workers. They posted a £204m profit in March this year. This year, they paid £800,000 in bonuses to senior management.
"They've increased their share dividend payouts by 45 per cent but they haven't got any money to pay these workers a decent pay rise. They were able to find money to try and induce people to scab and break the dispute.
"Though what this employer keeps saying to the media is that we will not allow these workers to see the pay offer. We always consult our members in this RMT union. We're a member led organisation. All of these workers have seen the offer. They all know what they want to do, and that's why they stand in this picket line."
The RMT said it had kept the door open to the negotiating table and said its members would be available throughout the weekend up to Sunday with a view to call off the industrial action if First Bus came back with a meaningful pay offer. It said the bus company did not take the union up on its offer which has led to the industrial action going ahead and bus services in Cornwall being disrupted.
The union said it is not just campaigning for better wages for bus drivers and other staff but is also concerned with what they say is an ageing fleet of buses and what they say has been a lack of investment in the region.
If the pay talks are not satisfactory to both parties, the RMT has announced it will also go on strike for two days on August 9 and 12, which would coincide with thousands heading to Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall.
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Yesterday, First Bus said: "Unfortunately, despite First South West (which operates Cornwall by Kernow buses) making an improved offer last Friday, the RMT refused to put this offer to their members and instead took strike action.
"This is extremely disappointing, as the RMT’s unwillingness to work with us not only impacts our colleagues but causes unnecessary disruption to our passengers who rely on the bus for work, education and important appointments.
"In Somerset and Cornwall, 171 members voted for action short of a strike. This means still working, but simply on ‘work to rule’ and not doing overtime. The members that voted for this were not even considered, as the RMT went straight for strike action. The RMT were invited to continue to engage with us this week but instead have taken industrial action.
"We will be in touch with the RMT on next steps and would like to apologise to our customers for the disruption the strike action is causing."
