OVER 90 Chelmsford busworkers have been sacked for the 'crime' for participating in a short strike (which only overed the evening shift) organised in protest against persistent management attempts to impose longer and unsafe hours.
The sackings were announced on November 18 by the Eastern National Bus Company, part of the Badger Line Group.
Eastern National has
joined the growing number of employers - P&0, News International, Timex and Burnsalls' to name just a few - who have sacked workers taking lawful action, exploiting Tory anti-union laws which have repeatedly been 6ORdemned by the International labour Organisation, as a breach of ILO conventions.
Indeed, as these sackings show, workers are often more vulnerable if they obey the Tory laws. These now require a postal ballot and lengthy periods of notice which give employers the chance to organise efforts to break strikes long before they can lawtully take place.
In this instance, Eastern National had a scabbing operation in place before The sackings, bringing in scab drivers from Wales and the West Country into town and putting them up in hoTRADE UNION NEWS tels.
As a busworkers' leaflet explained to passengers, it is now dangerous to catch a scab bus which will be driven by someone who does not know the route and may not have driven a bus in years.
So far the TGWU has organised a strike fund and boycott of eastern national services. While this is obviously necessary it is unlikely a campaign restricted to building on the public sympathy that undoubtedly exists in the town will be enough to win reenstatement.
Sooner rather than later the union and the sacked workers will need to build for solidarity action from other Eastern National employees in Essex and throughout Badger Line.
The organisation of mass picketing to close down the Chelmsford depot should also be on the agenda.
In the meantime the local trades council is organising a support group to win wider support for the sacked workers.
Messages of support can be sent c/o Roger Welch, Secretary, Chelmsford Trades Council, Mildmay Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 ODR.
• Donations to the strike fund should be made payable to 'TGWU (Chelmsford Bus Drivers Support Fund)' and sent to Ken Reid, TGWU, Woodberry, Green Lanes, London N4 2HB.