Thousands of livelihoods at stake as London bus company goes up for sale

10 June 2010

Unite, the UK's largest union, has today (Thursday) made clear that the current situation facing the East London Bus Group (ELBG) must not impact detrimentally on its 4,500 members.

The giant bus company which runs routes in East London, S.E. London and Central London has announced that it will be selling up, as it is facing huge losses.

Unite is concerned that the proposed sale will mean potential job losses, a reduction in services to the city and could lead to a number of routes lost, affecting the travelling public.

Unite is prepared to listen to the company's plan for moving out of the chaos it finds itself in, but 630 Unite members made clear at a mass meeting that they would not be prepared to accept the significant wage cuts and attacks on terms and conditions that ELBG is demanding.

Unite Regional Officer, John Griffiths, said:

"This is the result of the Mayor's tendering policies in the London bus market which is leading to an accelerated and ugly race to the bottom.

"Our members carry millions of passenger's everyday and keep this city moving. Why should they be penalised as a result of this anarchic system, and by an operator that has made a fast buck, and is now bailing out.

"Our huge fear is for the many thousands of loyal workers at the ELBG and Unite is calling for a swift resolution to end the uncertainty that our members face."

Unite is now seeking urgent meetings with TfL to seek assurances that jobs and terms and conditions will be preserved.

The ELBG was acquired from Stagecoach by a consortium led by Australian investment bank Macquarie.