"Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Bus driver fatigue is a major issue for our members, not just in terms of their own safety but passenger safety too." Unite says many bus journeys can take up to an hour and a half, with drivers completing these several times during a shift without sufficient rest. It adds that drivers allegedly receive only 10 hours' rest between shifts which is below the European Working Time Directive requirement of at least 11 hours."
"Graham added: "Unite will not stand for workers enduring poor conditions that lead to fatigue and place them and their passengers in danger. "Our members will have our full support throughout this dispute." The union also claims the company asks drivers to use remote electric charging points, adding to their workload, and refuses to schedule meal breaks at the depot, which leaves drivers without a proper place to rest."
More than 300 Unite members at the East London Bus & Coach Company, part of Stagecoach, will vote on potential strike action over breaks and scheduling. Drivers based at Bow Bus Garage report problems with break management, long repetitive journeys, and insufficient rest between shifts. Unite claims drivers sometimes complete hour-and-a-half trips multiple times per shift and allegedly receive only ten hours' rest between shifts, below the European Working Time Directive minimum of eleven hours. The union also alleges drivers are asked to use remote electric charging points and are denied scheduled meal breaks at the depot, leaving them without a proper place to rest. Separate Stagecoach drivers in Leyton plan February strikes amid disputes over alleged unionbusting and bullying of Unite representatives.
Read at www.bbc.com
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