- Document date
- 01-11-2024
By email and blogpost
Elly Baker, Chair
London Assembly Transport Committee
City Hall
Kamal Chunchie Way
London E16 1ZE
cc: London Assembly Transport Committee Members, Tom Kearney #LondonBusWatch
With the support of Unite the Union, on Tuesday, 5 November I will join many London Bus Drivers in a march and demonstration at TfL Headquarters to hold Sadiq Khan to account for the 'Safety Scandal' that has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people from Bus Safety Incidents and 76 London Bus Drivers from Covid-19 while he has served as TfL Chair and Mayor of London.
We are demanding that TfL and the Mayor immediately accept a London Bus Drivers' 'Bill of Rights' that I've attached for your information and review.
While I still await your direct response my 26 June Open Letter, if you study the Bill of Rights and what I have requested the Transport Committee to investigate, i.e.—
—you might appreciate that Bus Drivers are not going to wait months or years until the Transport Committee deigns to get around to scrutinising TfL and the Mayor for creating and maintaining working conditions where we cannot operate our vehicles safely and with duty of care.
I am pleased Unite the Union is supporting this entirely London Bus Workers'-initiated Direct Action next week. If you lead the Transport Committee to investigate the issues I raised in my 26 June Open Letter, you will discover why our grassroots protest is so necessary.
I await your direct reply to my 26 June Open Letter.
Yours sincerely,
Lorraine Robertson
Attachment: London Bus Drivers' Bill of Rights
London Bus Drivers’ Bill of Rights
1. The Right to a safe work schedule without any forced overtime or loss of pay
2. The Right to a decent and proper rest break in the working day
3. The Right to drive a safe and well-maintained vehicle
4. The Right to clean, serviced toilet and rest facilities on all bus routes
5. The Right to report safety concerns without fear of retribution from TfL or employers
6. The Right, when seriously ill and covered by a doctor's note, to not be harassed into coming into work until fit to do so
7. The Right to relevant and timely safety training
8. The Right to drive without being forced to answer radio messages and texts from Controllers whilst in motion
9. The Right to have all company rules in writing and clearly displayed
10. The Right to be treated with dignity and respect by our employers, TfL and the public
11. The Right to Working Air Cooling in our cabs in the summer heat
12. The Right to Working Heaters in our cabs in the cold of winter
Source: https://saferoxfordstreet.blogspot.com/2024/11/5-november-london-bus-drivers-protest.html
Auto-imported from Tom Kearney’s blog.
Elly Baker, Chair
London Assembly Transport Committee
City Hall
Kamal Chunchie Way
London E16 1ZE
1 November 2024
cc: London Assembly Transport Committee Members, Tom Kearney #LondonBusWatch
RE: 5 November London Bus Drivers' Protest at TfL Headquarters - Open Letter
With the support of Unite the Union, on Tuesday, 5 November I will join many London Bus Drivers in a march and demonstration at TfL Headquarters to hold Sadiq Khan to account for the 'Safety Scandal' that has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people from Bus Safety Incidents and 76 London Bus Drivers from Covid-19 while he has served as TfL Chair and Mayor of London.
We are demanding that TfL and the Mayor immediately accept a London Bus Drivers' 'Bill of Rights' that I've attached for your information and review.
While I still await your direct response my 26 June Open Letter, if you study the Bill of Rights and what I have requested the Transport Committee to investigate, i.e.—
- The Contradiction between TfL's Bus Contract Timeliness Incentives and Speed Limits;
- TfL's Refusal to Require Independent Bus Crash Investigations;
- TfL's Failure to conduct Risk and/or Human Factors Assessments of Bus Driver Working Conditions that are known to have a direct impact upon Safety Performance.
—you might appreciate that Bus Drivers are not going to wait months or years until the Transport Committee deigns to get around to scrutinising TfL and the Mayor for creating and maintaining working conditions where we cannot operate our vehicles safely and with duty of care.
I am pleased Unite the Union is supporting this entirely London Bus Workers'-initiated Direct Action next week. If you lead the Transport Committee to investigate the issues I raised in my 26 June Open Letter, you will discover why our grassroots protest is so necessary.
I await your direct reply to my 26 June Open Letter.
Yours sincerely,
Lorraine Robertson
Attachment: London Bus Drivers' Bill of Rights
London Bus Drivers’ Bill of Rights
1. The Right to a safe work schedule without any forced overtime or loss of pay
2. The Right to a decent and proper rest break in the working day
3. The Right to drive a safe and well-maintained vehicle
4. The Right to clean, serviced toilet and rest facilities on all bus routes
5. The Right to report safety concerns without fear of retribution from TfL or employers
6. The Right, when seriously ill and covered by a doctor's note, to not be harassed into coming into work until fit to do so
7. The Right to relevant and timely safety training
8. The Right to drive without being forced to answer radio messages and texts from Controllers whilst in motion
9. The Right to have all company rules in writing and clearly displayed
10. The Right to be treated with dignity and respect by our employers, TfL and the public
11. The Right to Working Air Cooling in our cabs in the summer heat
12. The Right to Working Heaters in our cabs in the cold of winter
Source: https://saferoxfordstreet.blogspot.com/2024/11/5-november-london-bus-drivers-protest.html
Auto-imported from Tom Kearney’s blog.