REBEL Labour councillor and Unite Union activist Kevin Bennett joined Warrington Network bus depot workers on their picket line, in support of their industrial action.
As workers staged their second one day strike, Cllr. Bennett said: “I have tried to raise issues that have brought us to this, within the Warrington Labour Group since 2012, only to be told that it was just ‘canteen talk’.
“I have decided to support the workers at the Warrington Network bus depot because I know how ‘desperate’ they have become. With regards to the dispute they have been offered a 0% pay rise, but there are also several major issues that are affecting staff that work there.
“They asked me to say to the public that they collectively apologise to them, the strike is solid, but it’s not just about pay.
Cllr. Bennett added: “Having spoken to some of the workforce it is apparent that they are extremely frustrated, at what they say is, due to years of
mis-management and the company being allowed to slip from a profit of £1.4M a few years ago, to substantial losses today.
“Workers asked me what are the board of directors are doing about it?”
Interim Managing Director Ann Marie Slavin said: “The mandate on the ballot was on pay. If they are not striking about pay then then they need to be re balloted about strike action.”
She added: “The public transport industry in the UK is in crisis due to reduced patronage, reduction in fuel duty rebates from the government, increased fuel and reduction in tendered services from councils. For 16 years the staff in Network Warrington have had pay rises. They are being asked to take a pay freeze for 12 months only.”
Labour rebel shows support for bus strike
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
6 Comments
This guy Bennett as no problem finding time for other people but when it comes to working in his ward he’s the invisible man . Stop taking your council wages and give it to the strikers coz that’s all you seem to be bothered about .
How many others like me wished they’d had pay rises each year for the last 16 years, never mind actually received them? If they had would they be striking this year because they had been asked to take a pay freeze, because times are tough?
Does Comrade Bennett actually use the bus?
Who is this Kevin Bennett ? Looks like Blakey from on the buses
Kevin Bennett’s got more moral fibre in his little finger than you 4 will ever have!!
But no brain tissue – played like a plum as always