US private equity muscles in on rail
16 April 2018
American private equity firm Apollo Management has made a bid for one of Britain’s largest bus and rail companies, First Group, which has rebuffed the initial bid.
Transport
Transport
Smoke and mirrors
Uber cabs, Uber economy, Uber employment – we’re deluged in disinformation about this business model…
Pay strike stops buses in North West
Over 2000 Unite bus workers in 11 depots took strike action on Thursday 19 October over pay, paralysing local bus networks in the North West.
Capitalist rail carousel continues
10 August 2017
The capitalist carousel that now typifies Britain’s railways continues as London Midland loses the franchise to operate routes across the region’s network.
The land of 100,000 potholes
4 August 2017
Britain’s infrastructure is crumbling – literally. As council budgets get ever tighter, more than 100,000 potholes have been found on the country’s roads.
Honour and dishonour at Woolwich ferry
10 July 2017
It is honourable that a new Woolwich ferries will be named after Ben Woollacott, the 19-year-old deckhand killed in a mooring accident in 2011 – but other factors associated with the new ferry are less so.
'Solid' RMT action over driver-only trains
9 April 2017
RMT members chose to strike on Grand National day to get maximum publicity for their campaign of opposition to plans to introduce driver-only-operated trains
British Airways facing six days of strike action by cabin crew
7 February 2017
Almost 3,000 British Airways cabin crew are stepping up strike action with a six-day walkout in an escalating dispute about poverty pay.
Breakthrough as union wins tube safety fight
3 February 2017
Transport union RMT has called off the strike on the London Underground planned to start on Sunday after management agreed to reinstate 60 per cent of its planned job cuts.
A proper merchant navy - or face 'strangulation'
19 October 2016
After decades of decline in the number of British-registered vessels, Britain’s merchant navy is becoming so depleted that our economy could be held to ransom by other nations with stronger shipping industries, according to Nautilus, the maritime union.
London cabbies make a stand against Uber
23 June 2016
With protests continuing, CPBML News has been speaking to a black cab driver about the controversial app-based transportation network.
'Trusted' Khan breaks key election pledge
10 June 2016
A poll found London Mayor Sadiq Khan trusted to make accurate claims about the EU than any other politician. That may change now he has broken his election pledge to freeze fares.
CalMac to remain in public ownership
29 May 2016
Operation of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services is to remain in public ownership for at least the next eight years. This victory follows an RMT campaign against a possible takeover by Serco.
Network Rail: sleight of hand
25 April 2016
The government is revaluing Network Rail’s balance sheet in a transparent attempt to shore up its own crumbling accounts.
River staff threaten strike action
31 August 2015
Crew members and others who staff some of the Thames river boats, such as Thames Clippers and City Cruises, have voted unanimously to go out on strike for improved pay and conditions.
Why we are striking: Tube workers speak out
10 July 2015
Members of Aslef and RMT picketing on 9 July told cpbml.org.uk why they were on strike. The dispute is about working conditions, not pay, associated with the proposed 24-hour operation of the tube.
Shutdown ahead as Tube workers prepare to walk out
8 July 2015
London’s Tube services are set for a complete shutdown today as all the major unions in London Underground strike for 24 hours from 6pm in a dispute over the introduction of all-night Tube trains.
EasyJet cabin crew ballot over pay
7 July 2015
Cabin crews at the airline easyJet are to be balloted for industrial action by their union, Unite, following a breakdown in negotiations over pay for over 2,000 cabin crew at 11 bases throughout Britain.
RMT to campaign against EU in referendum
29 June 2015
Transport union RMT yesterday at its Annual General Meeting in Newcastle to campaign against continued membership of the EU in the promised referendum.
RMT support solid in Scottish ferry dispute
28 June 2015
Ferry workers halted sailings to islands on the west coast of Scotland, taking action against the threat to wages, standards and jobs arising from an EU-enforced privatisation process.
Tube workers prepare for action
Tube driver members of ASLEF have voted overwhelmingly in favour of action against London Underground’s attempt to impose new rosters and payments.
National rail strike suspended after improved pay offer
25 May 2015
Rail unions RMT and TSSA suspended a national rail strike scheduled for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend after Network Rail improved its pay offer. It would have been the first national rail strike for two decades.
Surrey bus drivers ballot for action
6 May 2015
More than 100 bus drivers working for Abellio Surrey at its Byfleet depot are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.
RMT protests against subsidising European rail services
A series of protests across the north of England are highlighting the way British rail passengers are subsidising rail services in other European countries.
National strike looms over rail pay
Rail unions RMT and TSSA look set to call around 20,000 Network Rail staff out on strike in a fight over pay after talks at ACAS broke down.
Cypriot workers fight aftermath of EU-ordained closure
8 February 2015
Unions in Cyprus are still fighting the aftermath of the shutdown of the national air carrier, Cyprus Airways. An EU ruling that financial help given by the Cyprus government was illegal state aid effectively shut it down in January, with the loss of 560 jobs
London’s bus drivers in second day of strike action
6 February 2015
A Unite union rep in north London explains why the capital’s drivers are having to fight to force bus companies to sign a single agreement covering pay in the capital.
London-wide bus walkout over pay and conditions
9 January 2015
With the announcement by Unite of a London-wide bus drivers’ strike on 13 January the stage is now set for a key confrontation in the capital’s public transport. The 27,000 drivers work for 18 different companies, and want to end big discrepancies in pay with a single agreement for all.
Ferry workers vote on strike
9 January 2015
Unite members working on the Woolwich Ferry crossing in London are balloting for strike action over sick pay and the company’s use of agency staff.
London bus drivers go for unity
London’s bus drivers are balloting on industrial action to force through one agreement covering all bus companies in the capital.