New bus strikes in east London and Essex

Hundreds of drivers in Essex and east London have called strikes over pay in the run up to Christmas.

Over 2,000 drivers at East London Bus Group will take their fourth day of strike action next Wednesday 16 December.

Drivers at CT Plus – another east London operator – will strike on the same day.

Meanwhile First Essex drivers have voted by a huge majority to escalate their strikes against a pay freeze by walking out for a week from 17 December.

Derrick Campbell, the Unite rep at CT Plus, told Socialist Worker, “The managers are sticking to their guns, so we have to keep up our action.

“I think our last strike must have come as a rude awakening to the company – it showed the strength of feeling among all the workers here.

“Management have been trying to split off groups of workers by telling them they risk losing their jobs if they strike.

“But the mood is still very strong.”

Drivers at two more London companies – Arriva North and Blue Triangle – are also balloting for action and may strike before Christmas.