Warrington’s Own Buses workers ‘on verge of strike action’

Unite – the union whose refuse workers are engaging in crippling industrial action in the town – say the bus company rep was ‘sacked on trumped up charges’.

It also says members are taking strike action over ‘the company’s bullying culture’.

A Unite spokesman said: “Unite believes the sacking was a targeted attack related to the worker’s legitimate trade union activities.

“In response, a consultative ballot was carried out that resulted in an 83 per cent vote in favour of strike action at the Warrington Borough Council-owned company.

“The worker was sacked after his bus broke down because he took a picture of the vehicle's undercarriage to show the fault more clearly to the engineer who had been called out.

“The company dismissed the worker for breaching health and safety rules as the engine was still running when he bent down to take the picture.

“This is despite the company admitting other workers had done similar things and not been sacked for them.

“During the worker's appeal, the company then changed its reason for dismissing him.

“This time, the company claimed it was because it was believed that the worker, who had previously worked as a mechanic, would have tried to fix the fault himself if given the opportunity, although the worker did no such thing.”

Warrington's Own Buses workers are 'on verge of strike action'

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Warrington's Own Buses' trumped up charges are nonsensical and spurious.

“This is a barely disguised attempt to get rid of this worker for carrying out his legitimate trade union duties.

“Warrington's Own Buses needs to reinstate this worker immediately, otherwise this issue will be resolved through industrial and legal action.

“Unite never tolerates attacks on our workplace representatives, and this worker has the full force of the union behind him.”

Unite regional officer Colin Hayden added: “It is bad enough that Warrington Borough Council has caused the refuse strikes to escalate by failing to confirm a fair pay deal for its workers.

“Now, residents are also facing the very real prospect of bus strikes because of a bullying culture that has been allowed to develop at the council’s bus company.

“The completely unjustified and disgraceful sacking of a workplace rep was the last straw for Warrington’s Own Buses’ workforce.

“The council needs to show leadership by ensuring he is reinstated and taking steps to reform the company’s toxic work environment.”

Unite will begin formal industrial action proceedings at Warrington’s Own Buses in the coming weeks.

Warrington Borough Council has been approached to comment.