BUS DRIVERS employed by First South Yorkshire may walk out soon.

They are angry at 'harsh' disciplinary procedures being used at the firm's Olive Grove depot in Sheffield.  The drivers were also angry at First South Yorkshire’s refusal to offer a pay rise for the current financial year. This issue has been resolved – for now - after First offered a pay rise next year.

Trouble has been rumbling for some time now.

Last autumn, the Olive Grove workers walked out for four days.

This led to them winning victories on five individual disciplinary cases.

Disciplinary and sickness procedures – used by management on a routine basis to bully and intimidate drivers – were to be changed.

However attempts to get these changes in writing have been unsuccessful.

This is unacceptable.

 
Also unacceptable is the behaviour of the trade union, Unite.  It has disgraced itself by urging workers not to walk out again.  Instead of grovelling to

First South Yorkshire boses, Unite should insist that they immediately commit the new agreed disciplinary and sickness procedures to paper.

Anything less will be seen as a Unite sell-out.