Buses

First faces a fine after being convicted of a health and safety "shambles" over the death of one of it's drivers.

Robert Cherry, 59, was crushed to death when he was trapped between two buses at a depot in Uxbridge belonging to Centrewest London, a subsidiary of First UK group. Robert had been collecting a can of water to top up his vehicle's engine when the gear stick of the bus in front slipped and the vehicle reversed into him. He was pinned between the first bus and the one behind, which was in turn thrown back into a third vehicle. He died at the scene of the accident.

On Saturday 29th November 2008 Metroline employee Patrick Docherty started work at a quarter to four in the afternoon. By 5.15pm he was involved in a tragic accident on Westbourne Terrace in Paddington.

Foreign student Karin Duphey, a 22-year-old dutch national was crossing a zebra crossing when she was hit by Patrick's single decker route 46 bus. She had barely been in the country three months and was studying Fashion Marketing at Westminster University.

On saturday 5th december 2009, Carolyn Siddall, who worked for the organising unit, died after suffering from ill health. On that day, we lost a dear and valued friend.

She was an inspirational figure to all those who knew her. She offered busworkers help, advice and friendship when we most needed it. Carolyn will be missed by all her friends on the buses. We offer our condolences to her family and friends.

It's time to join the RMT Fines Pool. The Fines Pool, which is operated on a yearly basis, starts on 1st January and ends on 31st December every year. The cost of membership of the Fines Pool is one payment of £5.00 per year.

There are a number of ways to join. You can join by filling in a joining form and pay by cheque or cash to the Fines Pool collector, who is usually your branch secretary or hand it in or send it with a cheque made payable to the RMT Fines Pool to Unity House.

NSL Challenger has been bought by Transdev, which owns London United and London Sovereign. NSL Challenger operates from two garages and has seven routes. Routes 272, 283, 440 and E11 from Park Royal and routes 33, 419 and 493 from Twickenham.

The transfer took place on Friday 13th November 2009 and the company will be operated by London Sovereign.

NSL Challenger has 281 employees who are currently employed in the business. They were transferred to London Sovereign under TUPE on their current terms of employment and their period of continuous employment is preserved.

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

A recent Channel 4 Unreported World documentary highlighted the plight of bus drivers in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Bus drivers are being murdered at the rate of one every other day as part of an extortion campaign. One driver who got shot had been paying $40 a week - half his weekly income!