:Forest Folk

In a recent development, Unite, a union of bus drivers, has decided to decrease an hour from the driving time of public bus drivers in UK for safety reasons, without corresponding reduction in pay.

The campaign basically drives home the point that though the interests of coach and haulage drivers are protected under EU regulations, bus drivers are left out. Hence, they are asking for a reduction of maximum driving time to eight hours and a ten-hour shift in addition to the demand that the drivers should not be made to drive for more than four and half hours at a stretch.

According to Unite, it is a way to garner support from the masses that can lead to a bigger campaign, so that they can demand a national ballot throughout the industry to determine the take of employers and employees on the same.

Graham Stevenson, Unite’s national organiser for the transport sector, points out that UK bus drivers are made to drive for longer periods than other European drivers do. The problem is further exacerbated by the increasing traffic on Britain’s roads and concerns for safety that makes their task even more dangerous.

The employers might argue that such reforms could cost them a fortune, but the point is that the financial costs of reduced work hours of bus drivers can never exceed the safety of drivers and thousands of commuters of these buses. He also adds that if all operators decide to implement the reforms, it will cost them equally.

The Certificate in HR Practice (CHRP) provides a firm foundation in all the areas of personnel and imparts training to managers to successfully manage appropriate policies and procedures and improve upon management skills to implement best practice in employment law, recruitment and selection.