Bus drivers strike

[southsider]

Was talking to the driver on the bus this morning and he said that the drivers had voted to go on strike by over 90%. The main problem is, he said, constant bullying and intimidation by management. Means a 3 mile walk home from work each day but they have my support.

[danhibees1875]

Begins on August 2nd if there's no resolution.

I'm not sure what's been offered (Lothian buses claim a substantial pay raise and benefits) Vs what's demanded. Your info makes it sound like it's not driven by money though, so might not be an easy issue to resolve if that's actually the case.

They'd just sorted out their contactless payment as well (for some tickets).

[Mon Dieu4]

Having spoken to a few drivers and family members of drivers the way they are treated at times is shocking, good on them and hope they get the change that is needed

[Pretty Boy]

Good on them.

Lothian Buses throwing the pay bribe in at the last minute and using that line in all their communications about the strike is as shameless an attempt at manipulating local opinion as I have seen in a while. As I said elsewhere this is classic 'divide and conquer' from management. Paint the drivers and Union as greedy and try to influence opinion against them.

Reading through various social media channels it seems that has failed and public opinion is very much on the drivers side.

[RyeSloan]

Would I be right in saying all of this came about because one driver was sacked for posting a ‘funny’ meme of the boss on a private WhatsApp thread?

[Cataplana]

Behind them 100% although it will impact on going to the Festival.

The drivers are at the sharp end of what everyone in this city has had to endure due to over tourism.

Driving in town must be hard enough, without having to keep to a timetable and act as the tourist information service .

The final straw has to be that driver getting the sack for mocking the CEO. Good for them for standing up for themselves.

The rest of the city needs to get behind them, and take a leaf out of their book.

[stoneyburn hibs]

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Would I be right in saying all of this came about because one driver was sacked for posting a ‘funny’ meme of the boss on a private WhatsApp thread?

Yes, and the guys who shared it were suspended.
They wouldn't reinstate him and then the bullying culture accusations came out.

[RyeSloan]

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Yes, and the guys who shared it were suspended.
They wouldn't reinstate him and then the bullying culture accusations came out.

Ah I thought I had read that.

Seems petty to say the least and maybe does reflect the overall management culture. That said I’m sure the drivers used to have a beef with the dude that ran LRT for years as well (Renilson?) so maybe this driver / management thing has been a long term issue.

I know most big businesses have ‘out of work’ clauses re conduct etc but there is an interesting privacy thing here as well re the fact it was done on a private WhatsApp thread.

[Pete]

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Yes, and the guys who shared it were suspended.
They wouldn't reinstate him and then the bullying culture accusations came out.

You don’t hear about these things on the news and this is the first I’ve heard of this. It sounds as if it’s all about ego’s and they are being put before the interests of the public.

However, there are probably strict rules regarding social media and private or not, they’ve been broken and the company are going by the book.

It’s a difficult one but I’m siding with the drivers here and a more mature management strategy would solve the problem. Social media is a fairly new phenomenon so the rules regarding its use therefore have to develop as we begin to get used to it becoming a part of our lives.

[Future17]

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Ah I thought I had read that.

Seems petty to say the least and maybe does reflect the overall management culture. That said I’m sure the drivers used to have a beef with the dude that ran LRT for years as well (Renilson?) so maybe this driver / management thing has been a long term issue.

I know most big businesses have ‘out of work’ clauses re conduct etc but there is an interesting privacy thing here as well re the fact it was done on a private WhatsApp thread.

One of the lessons here is that there's no such thing as privacy on social media. As soon as you share a comment or photo etc. you no longer have control over what happens to it.

[lord bunberry]

Bonanza time for the taxis

[Mr Grieves]

Unite recommended that their members accept the deal offered by Lothian buses. Why did the the drivers overwhelmingly reject the offer and what do they they actually want?

[stoneyburn hibs]

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You don’t hear about these things on the news and this is the first I’ve heard of this. It sounds as if it’s all about ego’s and they are being put before the interests of the public.

However, there are probably strict rules regarding social media and private or not, they’ve been broken and the company are going by the book.

It’s a difficult one but I’m siding with the drivers here and a more mature management strategy would solve the problem. Social media is a fairly new phenomenon so the rules regarding its use therefore have to develop as we begin to get used to it becoming a part of our lives.

My stepfather is an LRT driver, there is apparently a lot more accusations that could be aired.

I fully support them.

[Smartie]

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Unite recommended that their members accept the deal offered by Lothian buses. Why did the the drivers overwhelmingly reject the offer and what do they they actually want?

If the dispute isn't about money then I don't know why more money would be an adequate solution?

[GlesgaeHibby]

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Unite recommended that their members accept the deal offered by Lothian buses. Why did the the drivers overwhelmingly reject the offer and what do they they actually want?

Part of the offer was seemingly that management would abide by company policy going forward - why wouldn't they be expected to do so already?

It's poor form that management and the media are trying to spin this as being about pay.

[Cataplana]

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One of the lessons here is that there's no such thing as privacy on social media. As soon as you share a comment or photo etc. you no longer have control over what happens to it.

There is such a thing as common sense though. It seems that the executive involved is so caught up in his own self image that he has lost sight of what is good for the business.

This strike is an ideal opportunity for the board of LRT to revisit their management philosophy, as the current one is about to hit them in the pocket.

Stupid ******* should have been able to take a joke, but he acts the big I Am instead. Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?

[pollution]

I am confused. Their union has twice recommended an acceptance of a deal but the drivers refused.

The complaint isn't about money? I wish someone would be specific about an example of bullying, not the original parody of an executive.

As someone who complained to management about bullying at work there is always a particular instance of intimidation that lead to a settlement.

In my case it was to the agreed departure of said manager.

[Cataplana]

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I am confused. Their union has twice recommended an acceptance of a deal but the drivers refused.

The complaint isn't about money? I wish someone would be specific about an example of bullying, not the original parody of an executive.

As someone who complained to management about bullying at work there is always a particular instance of intimidation that lead to a settlement.

In my case it was to the agreed departure of said manager.

LRT seem to have different methods from your employer. Good to know your situation was resolved though.

[Fife-Hibee]

So what exactly are they striking for? Who has been bullied? Because by the sounds of it, the people who were bullied (on social media) have taken action against the bullies and now the bullies are the ones going on strike?

[Mr Grieves]

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Part of the offer was seemingly that management would abide by company policy going forward - why wouldn't they be expected to do so already?

It's poor form that management and the media are trying to spin this as being about pay.

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If the dispute isn't about money then I don't know why more money would be an adequate solution?

That's fair enough, but it would appear that their own union aren't clear about their demands. So what is it that they actually want?

[Danderhall Hibs]

If it’s not about money what are the drivers holding out for? Do they want some management to be sacked?

[Cataplana]

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If it’s not about money what are the drivers holding out for? Do they want some management to be sacked?

I'm guessing they are looking for respect. It appears they haven't been treated that way, and want more than lip service.

It seems that the management have taken them for granted, and seen them as weak an ineffective. A strike is an opportunity to show them they have power in the relationship too.

[Pretty Boy]

Sometimes in a work place it's not always easy to express perfect examples of bullying and harassment but it's still evident it exists.

A few years ago I worked for a business that was bought over. The new owner brought in his own GM who in turn brought in his own team, that's fair enough. The culture of the whole business completely changed and long serving members of staff were increasingly isolated and ostracised. We had a group of casual staff who only worked during special events and some of them were effectively dismissed from their jobs through not being given shifts, being excluded from training and being removed from email lists and so on. Senior members of staff were subject to de facto demotion as new roles were created that superceded roles they had carried out for years. Overtime was no longer optional and breaks were actively discouraged, it wasn't uncommon on a busy weekend to work 14 hours without stopping to eat.

If you asked me for a specific example of me being bullied I'd struggle to give one, I can stand up for myself. However I was aware a culture that fuelled bullying and harassment existed. Younger members of staff were treated as scapegoats, senior staff from the old management were systematically driven out of their jobs and it became a horrible environment to work in. I can't say I shed many tears recently when I heard the business was struggling.

[Pretty Boy]

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So what exactly are they striking for? Who has been bullied? Because by the sounds of it, the people who were bullied (on social media) have taken action against the bullies and now the bullies are the ones going on strike?

Hopefully Bojo does a Maggie and puts these pesky workers in their place.

[Fife-Hibee]

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Hopefully Bojo does a Maggie and puts these pesky workers in their place.

Really?

Seems like some people thought they could run off at the mouth on the world wide web and not be pulled up for it. They do realize this is 2019?

[Pretty Boy]

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Really?

Seems like some people thought they could run off at the mouth on the world wide web and not be pulled up for it. They do realize this is 2019?

You seriously think 90% of eligible drivers, with an 80% turnout, voted for strike action because of one incident?

This is just a further example of your scattergun, inconsistent approach to every topic. You rant away about Tories this and Tories that and then a local industrial dispute sees you immediately take up a position against local workers arguing for improved working conditions. For all your slavish devotion to SNP rhetoric when you go 'off piste' you often appear as though you would be right at home amongst the more extreme Tories you claim to despise.

[Fife-Hibee]

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You seriously think 90% of eligible drivers, with an 80% turnout, voted for strike action because of one incident?

This is just a further example of your scattergun, inconsistent approach to every topic. You rant away about Tories this and Tories that and then a local industrial dispute sees you immediately take up a position against local workers arguing for improved working conditions. For all your slavish devotion to SNP rhetoric when you go 'off piste' you often appear as though you would be right at home amongst the more extreme Tories you claim to despise.

What are the details then? What exactly are they striking for? What are they hoping to gain from this?

Perhaps it's more sensible to know the actual details before jumping on the bandwagon?

[speedy_gonzales]

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Perhaps it's more sensible to know the actual details before jumping on the bandwagon?

If only this mantra could be applied to every thread!!!

[speedy_gonzales]

I know no more than has already been published on MSM & social media, but a few years ago I used to dip in to a forum called "scümbus". It was an anonymous blog/forum by Lothian Buses drivers. Some of the stories there were hilarious, the blame that management would put on drivers for issues and incidents well beyond their control was ridiculous. There was also a fair rift between the regular drivers and the Airlink drivers, apparently the 100 drivers were meant to be the creme de la crème but in some instances it was a way of getting a troublemaker or nippy sweetie out the way.
If half the stories I read were true, then clearly there is a massive issue between the management and the workforce that provide an essential service to this city and beyond.
It's telling that part of the deal for the "drivers" was that the company were going to bring in external management consultants to assess existing management protocols which may have resulted in extra training for existing management, also, a company wide commitment that management would follow existing company policies!?! I couldn't write that sentence without using "management",,,, pretty much sums it up!
Clearly, there is a rotten core to this company and the drivers are striking (quite rightly) for something greater than money.

[MSK]

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What are the details then? What exactly are they striking for? What are they hoping to gain from this?

Perhaps it's more sensible to know the actual details before jumping on the bandwagon?

Simply put, bullying from management, this is not an isolated incident, it has been happening for years and not in one single depot either. Drivers are being put under enormous pressure now and if they blink they are being hauled up. A lot of those managers are bullies and many are ex drivers too but since promotion a few are on ego trips. A relative of mines drives for LRT, he started with them many years ago and loved it, he left after he moved from Edinburgh but after 8 years he went back, good pay, no complaints there but he says the atmosphere has changed, he has already been hauled before the beaks twice for the most ridiculous of reasons