Hammersmith and City Line branch

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

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.

A man who was abusive and attacked a bus driver outside Northolt Tube Station has received a 12-week suspended sentence and has been tagged for three months. Scott Rogers, 37, boarded an N7 night bus in Ealing on april 11th where he was abusive and had problems paying the full fare before his friend helped him out. The bus travelled to Northolt tube station where it then terminated and once the passengers alighted, Rogers confronted the driver before attacking him.

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 demonstration by busworkers took place today (Friday 2nd October 2009) outside London United's Hounslow Bus Garage. The protest was to highlight the bullying and harassment of RMT busworkers at London United. More protests are planned.

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