Why we need to support Medway's bus drivers in their fight for a safer and better timetable.

Medway's bus drivers are currently on strike today and they will be on strike on Monday, and the following Monday afterwards. The strike is not about money at all; they are content with their pay. Most of the bus drivers did not want to go on strike; but the timetable brought in by Arriva in June has made the safety of their drivers and passengers far, far worse. Some bus routes have a one minute recovery time each way, so if a bus is late due to traffic; the driver's recovery time (which is quite often the time they use to do mundane, but necessary things such as going to the toilet and standing up after sitting down and driving for hours upon end) is cut into; most drivers will tell you this if fine if a recovery time of five minutes or more is in place because a few minutes here and there off their toilet time is fine, but when drivers are being forced to break the working hours law due to traffic conditions and the location of the depot in Gillingham; then this is not acceptable.

I spoke with their union rep Tony Teed earlier today about why they were going on strike and the reasons for it. Firstly I asked him why the drivers were going on strike, his reply was " This strike is 100% about the safety of our passengers and our drivers; the new timetable cut recovery times and has impacted the ability for our drivers to provide a high quality service due to the lack of recovery time." Something I think we can all agree on; if a bus driver crashes because of tiredness they risk the lives of many passengers on the bus this is not acceptable.

I then asked Tony if the strike was over money, a feeling that has been brought about by some local residents, "This strike is NOT about money, we aren't asking Arriva for a penny; all we want is a timetable that works for drivers and passengers a like." he told me; we then had a long protacted conversation on the merits of the old timetable compared to the new one. I was then told that no new buses were brought about with the new timetable and the only thing that happened was driver recovery time was slashed.

So to conclude to the residents of Medway and afar; show some solidarity with drivers they work hard so we can all get to work/shopping/friends and many other things that happen when we use the buses, a different timetable will make the buses go on time like they used to and drivers will be happy; which is something we all want from one of the most undervalued jobs and services in the country. Thanks to Tony for speaking with me for 15 minutes in the freezing cold I was lucky enough that I got to go home; the drivers were all in high spirits and I was offered many a biscuit/cake and teas and coffees whilst I was there; I respectfully declined as I pointed out that I wasn't the one who was standing out in the freezing cold all day!