Morden and Oval branch

The new 2009 - 2010 pay deal was accepted by drivers at London United on the recommendation of a sister union. The vote was 523 in favour and 234 against.The hourly rates are as follows:

• Monday - Friday (0700-2000hrs)

Established Drivers (ED) pay goes up by 46 pence from £11.54 to £12.00

Probationary Drivers (PD) pay goes up 24p from £10.38 to £10.62

• Monday - Friday (2001-0659hrs)

ED pay goes up 24p from £11.79 to £12.03

PD pay goes up 24p from £10.38 to £10.62

Police officers called to an alleged assault on a member of staff by an angry lady customer at a bakery in Morden, south-west London on saturday 24th october rushed to the scene - by hopping on a bus. Rather than see officers pull up in a police car, the stunned manager watched as a team of officers arrived by public transport. The woman apparently fled the scene, also by bus, before the police arrived.

Following the recent introduction of Fixed Penalty Notices and Financial Deposit Notices issued by VOSA, there was a meeting of the Fines Pool administrators in which this issue was discussed.

It was agreed that if any case arises as a result of these penalties, and which would be outside of the normal remit of Fines Pool payments (fines committed under the Road Traffic Act) each case would be looked at individually and a decision made whether to pay the fine.

A very successful two day bus reps course took place in central london on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th September. The ever increasing numbers of london busworkers choosing to join RMT will be very well served by this enthusiastic, determined and self-motivated group of volunteers. We wish them well as they return to their workplaces and start defending and representing our members.

The Department for Transport is conducting a consultation on the effects of section 44, Local Transport Act 2008 and is inviting views on a package of draft regulations and guidance which relate to quality contracts schemes.

To view the draft Quality Contracts Schemes (Application of TUPE) Regulations 2009 click on this link http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/qcs/tupe1.pdf

The Local Transport Act 2008 gained royal assent in November 2008. It enabled the creation of Integrated Transport Authorities in the UK modelled on TfL, allowing these authorities to award Quality Contracts. Most of the Act doesn't affect London's bus workers.

The Department of Transport launched a consultation on the review of Domestic Drivers' Hours Rules. The rules, first introduced in the 1930s and largely unchanged since the 1960s, cover issues including maximum driving time, breaks, rest time, daily and weekly rest, record keeping and enforcement.

The consultation document can be found on the DfT website at

http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/domesticdrivershours/