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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| London 2012: Bus strike prevented by injunction | London 2012: Bus strike prevented by injunction |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An injunction stopping a planned strike by the majority of London bus workers seeking more pay during the Olympics has been issued by the High Court. | |
| The Arriva, Metroline and Go Ahead bus companies had applied for the order. | The Arriva, Metroline and Go Ahead bus companies had applied for the order. |
| Members of the Unite union are demanding a £500 bonus for working during the Games. | Members of the Unite union are demanding a £500 bonus for working during the Games. |
| Talks between 21 bus operators and the union aimed at halting Friday's planned strike action broke down at conciliation service Acas earlier. | Talks between 21 bus operators and the union aimed at halting Friday's planned strike action broke down at conciliation service Acas earlier. |
| Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood said: "We are disappointed that an agreement couldn't be reached today. | Acas chief conciliator Peter Harwood said: "We are disappointed that an agreement couldn't be reached today. |
| "The parties do now have a greater understanding of each other's positions though, and we are sure they will reflect on our discussions." | "The parties do now have a greater understanding of each other's positions though, and we are sure they will reflect on our discussions." |
| Francis King, the spokesman for Arriva, said the legal action centred on the legality of Unite's ballot process. | Francis King, the spokesman for Arriva, said the legal action centred on the legality of Unite's ballot process. |
| 'Breach of contract' | 'Breach of contract' |
| Andrew Stafford QC, for Arriva, Metroline and London General, said: "The workers have no contractual right to any bonus payment, but are of course perfectly at liberty to exercise their industrial muscle to procure by strike action what they cannot procure by agreement - provided the strike action is lawful. | Andrew Stafford QC, for Arriva, Metroline and London General, said: "The workers have no contractual right to any bonus payment, but are of course perfectly at liberty to exercise their industrial muscle to procure by strike action what they cannot procure by agreement - provided the strike action is lawful. |
| "If they are correct, then Unite is acting unlawfully to induce its members to act in breach of their contracts of employment with the companies. | "If they are correct, then Unite is acting unlawfully to induce its members to act in breach of their contracts of employment with the companies. |
| "If they are wrong, then Unite may induce breaches of contract with legal impunity." | "If they are wrong, then Unite may induce breaches of contract with legal impunity." |
| On Wednesday the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) offered £8.3m in a bid to avert action, mayor Boris Johnson has said. | On Wednesday the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) offered £8.3m in a bid to avert action, mayor Boris Johnson has said. |
| Unite "cautiously welcomed" the offer from the ODA. | Unite "cautiously welcomed" the offer from the ODA. |
| Mr Johnson said the money was only available if a strike was cancelled. | Mr Johnson said the money was only available if a strike was cancelled. |
| "It is absolutely vital that the bus companies now pull their fingers out and do this deal," he added. | "It is absolutely vital that the bus companies now pull their fingers out and do this deal," he added. |
| Unite's regional secretary for London, Peter Kavanagh, said: "The bus operators have posted billions in profits but they are refusing to enter into genuine and timely negotiations with Unite despite being ordered to by the mayor of London. | Unite's regional secretary for London, Peter Kavanagh, said: "The bus operators have posted billions in profits but they are refusing to enter into genuine and timely negotiations with Unite despite being ordered to by the mayor of London. |
| "The operators' and TfL's collective failure to act decisively to end the dispute means tomorrow's strike will go ahead. | "The operators' and TfL's collective failure to act decisively to end the dispute means tomorrow's strike will go ahead. |
| "Together the bus companies, TfL and the Olympic Delivery Authority can end this dispute at a stroke if everyone plays their fair part." | "Together the bus companies, TfL and the Olympic Delivery Authority can end this dispute at a stroke if everyone plays their fair part." |
| The £8.3m is in addition to £91m the ODA gave to Transport for London to cover the additional costs of running extra services during the Olympics, including bonus pay deals agreed with rail workers. | The £8.3m is in addition to £91m the ODA gave to Transport for London to cover the additional costs of running extra services during the Olympics, including bonus pay deals agreed with rail workers. |
| Deals have been announced giving workers at Heathrow Express £700, Network Rail £500, Docklands Light Railway £900, London Overground £600 and London Underground at least £850, Unite said. | Deals have been announced giving workers at Heathrow Express £700, Network Rail £500, Docklands Light Railway £900, London Overground £600 and London Underground at least £850, Unite said. |
| Unite estimates it would cost £14m to provide a £500 bonus for every bus driver. | Unite estimates it would cost £14m to provide a £500 bonus for every bus driver. |
| The strike was due to last 24 hours from 03:00 BST on Friday. | The strike was due to last 24 hours from 03:00 BST on Friday. |