00:00Around 350 bus drivers in North East London have been reported to be planning to walk
00:08out for four days during the month of February, amid an ongoing dispute over allegations of
00:14bullying and union busting at a bus depot. The trade union Unite said that since a change
00:20in management at the Lear Interchange bus garage in Leyton, East London, its members
00:26had been unfairly suspended and subjected to aggressive behaviour. Trade union members
00:32at the depot, which is part of Stagecoach, were set to strike on the 6th, 7th and 20th
00:39and 21st of February. Stagecoach said that it refuted Unite's allegations of union victimisation
00:47or bullying and stated that it recognised the important role of its recognised trade union.
00:54Unite said that one member had been unfairly dismissed and then reinstated, while another
00:59had been suspended on what it described as trumped up charges following an altercation with management.
01:08Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham said the union would never stand by and allow representatives
01:15to be bullied and that workers at the Lear Interchange bus company had the union's full support
01:21throughout this dispute. The upcoming walkouts were said to follow four previous strike days
01:27in December and January. Stagecoach London has said it would not tolerate victimisation of union
01:34representatives for carrying out their duties and explained that any disciplinary matters
01:40were handled through long established trade union agreed procedures that applied equally to all employees
01:47and included the right to representation and appeal.
01:54Unite Regional Officer John Murphy said the union appreciated it was frustrating for passengers to
02:01hear about more strikes but argued that the dispute was entirely the fault of the employer which he said
02:07had failed to come forward with a plan to resolve the problem. Stagecoach London added that it had made
02:14extensive efforts to resolve the matter including agreeing to independent mediation and said it remained open to
02:21further dialogue. The company said its priority was to do everything possible to minimise disruption and continue
02:28providing a safe and reliable service for customers during the strike action. The routes affected by the
02:35the upcoming industrial action were reported to be number 58, 86, 97, 135, 236, 276, 308, 339, 488, the D8, the W13, the W14 and the 678.
02:54And if the industrial action does go ahead those are the bus routes that will be affected.
02:58And if the industrial action will be affected by the
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