Unite Slams Boris Johnson’s Plans for London Buses as ‘Ludicrous’

LONDON - Unite, the UK’s largest trade union, has today (Thursday) welcomed the findings of an independent report, produced by the Royal Automobile Club Foundation (RAC) which states that Mayor Boris Johnson is “pre-occupied with minority-focused transport schemes and high-cost initiatives”.

Unite regional industrial organiser, Peter Kavanagh, said: “Unite warned the Mayor that the withdrawal of the bendy bus would mean more buses, more operating costs and more congestion on the already congested roads of London. This report from an organisation that can hardly be accused of having a political axe to grind, vindicates everything we argued against.

“The Mayor’s policies are adding to passenger grief with extra waiting times, even more congested roads and the likelihood of increased fares at a time when passengers can ill-afford it. The costs of operating the hundreds of extra buses required to maintain capacity will squeeze already very tight budgets.

“Bus drivers are having to cope with the effects of such ill thought out policies. We say they must not pay the price for Johnson’s bumbling policies which are based more on populist and sentimental nonsense, hankering after a bygone era of Routemasters, than on any firm or progressive transport strategy.”

Source: Unite the Union

For further information contact Peter Kavanagh on +44-(0)7980-721422 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on +44-(0)20-7420-8914 or +44-(0)7980-224761