Call for private operators to share expected additional revenue from Olympics with workers
Media Contact: David Roscow, 202-537-1645 x 254
Washington, DC - Amalgamated Transit Union International President Larry Hanley expressed strong support for a one-day strike by London bus workers in their fight for the same “Olympic wages” that virtually every other public transport worker in London has won through negotiations for the upcoming games.
“I want to express the solidarity of all of our members with striking London bus workers,” declared Hanley, who heads up the largest transit union in North America. “Private bus operators are expected to bring in millions in additional revenue from the projected extra passengers during the games and they have no intention of sharing it with the drivers who will ensure fans get to and from the events safely, securely and on time.”
London transportation workers at Heathrow Express, the London Underground, Network Rail and the Dockland light rail, have all negotiated an “Olympic wage” increase for their work during the Olympics. Yet the 21 private bus operators continue to refuse to enter into genuine and meaningful negotiations with UNITE, the union representing the 23,000 bus workers. These operators collectively posted over $2 billion in profits according to their latest annual accounts.
An estimated 800,000 more people are expected to be using London buses during the Olympics.
“We urge Mayor Boris Johnson and the private bus operators to negotiate fair compensation for the workers who will face increased pressure due to more passengers, traffic and delays during the games,” Hanley continued. “This is another case of the corporate greed that brought the world’s economy to its knees and continues to decimate working people across the globe.”
About the ATU
The Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1892, the ATU today is comprised of over 190,000 members in 264 local unions spread across 44 states and nine provinces, including 3,000 workers at Greyhound Lines, Inc. Composed of busdrivers, light rail operators, maintenance and clerical personnel and other transit and municipal employees, the ATU works to promote transit issues and fights for the interests of its hard-working members.