Bus company bemused by Union bullying claims after driver sacked for breaching mobile phone policy

LOCAL bus company Warrington’s Own Buses has been left bemused by bullying allegations being made by the UNITE Union which is threatening strike action in the coming weeks.

It follows a bus driver being summarily dismissed for breach of mobile phone policy and safety breaches by crawling under a bus with its engine running in a dangerous environment.

Unite says Warrington’s Own Buses are at risk of serious strike disruption due to the sacking of a union rep on ‘trumped up charges’ and the company’s ‘bullying culture.’

But the bus company say the mobile phone policy is longstanding and agreed with the union, as are the other policies – bus drivers can’t use mobiles.

They say they have met the TU to resolve matters but still on 31st October – a “consultative electronic ballot” took place but the total number voting has never been disclosed.
The bus company is unaware of any foundation to bullying claims or anti-union sentiment and hold weekly meetings with the local TU reps and nothing like this has ever been raised.

A Warrington’s Own Buses spokesperson said: “While we do not usually discuss staffing matters, we simply do not recognise the claims being made by Unite.
“A bus driver was suspended for clear breaches of our established policies, which have Trade Union approval. Our reasons for dismissal have been consistent and have not changed. To suggest otherwise is erroneous.
“It is important to note that Unite themselves reported a very similar breach a matter of weeks ago and were supportive of the action we took against the member of staff. This is an almost identical case, so it is unclear to us why, on this occasion, their representatives are taking such a different stance.
“We have attempted to discuss this matter with Unite to resolve matters and would welcome further discussions.”

Unite meanwhile believes the sacking was a targeted attack related to the worker’s legitimate trade union activities. In response, a consultative ballot was carried out that resulted in an 83 per cent vote in favour of strike action at the Warrington Borough Council-owned company.
The worker was sacked after his bus broke down because he took a picture of the vehicle’s undercarriage to show the fault more clearly to the engineer who had been called out.
The company dismissed the worker for breaching health and safety rules as the engine was still running when he bent down to take the picture. This is despite the company admitting other workers had done similar things and not been sacked for them.
During the worker’s appeal, the company then changed its reason for dismissing him. This time, the company claimed it was because it was believed that the worker, who had previously worked as a mechanic, would have tried to fix the fault himself if given the opportunity, although the worker did no such thing.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Warrington’s Own Buses’ trumped up charges are nonsensical and spurious. This is a barely disguised attempt to get rid of this worker for carrying out his legitimate trade union duties.
“Warrington’s Own Buses need to reinstate this worker immediately, otherwise this issue will be resolved through industrial and legal action. Unite never tolerates attacks on our workplace representatives and this worker has the full force of the union behind him.”

Warrington’s Own Buses is wholly owned by Labour controlled Warrington Borough Council, which is already embroiled in a pay dispute with its refuse workers, who are currently on strike.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden added: “It is bad enough that Warrington council has caused the refuse strikes to escalate by failing to confirm a fair pay deal for its workers. Now residents are also facing the very real prospect of bus strikes because of a bullying culture that has been allowed to develop at the council’s bus company.
“The completely unjustified and disgraceful sacking of a workplace rep was the last straw for Warrington’s Own Buses’ workforce. The council needs to show leadership by ensuring he is reinstated and taking steps to reform the company’s toxic work environment.”
Unite says it will begin formal industrial action proceedings at Warrington’s Own Buses in the coming weeks.