National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference 2023 Resolutions

Our ref: HSR/

Head Office Circular: NP/97/23

2^nd June 2023

To: The Secretary

ALL BRANCHES

REGIONAL COUNCILS

 

Dear Colleague,

 

NATIONAL BUS WORKERS INDUSTRIAL ORGANISING CONFERENCE 2023 RESOLUTIONS

 

The following resolutions were carried at this year’s National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference. The decisions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) which met on 25^th May, follow each of the four resolutions in question.

 

MAXIMUM BUS CAB TEMPERATURE

 

That this National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference calls upon the RMT N.E.C. to support and campaign for a maximum bus cab working temperature. 

 

Due to the climate crisis and faulty bus cab air conditioning systems during the summer months UK bus drivers are compelled to drive buses where the in-cab temperature exceeds 40C. 

 

According to the Mayor of London (whose regional transport authority contracts 25% of the UK’s bus fleet) these inhumane conditions are permitted because “There is no specified upper workplace temperature in UK regulations”. Meanwhile the UK government has longstanding guidance for the safe transport of livestock that expressly states “That you should not transport animals in temperatures over 30C. 

 

This Conference calls upon the RMT N.E.C. to issue clear guidance to Regional Authority Bus Contractors and Bus Operators that bus drivers will not be required to drive, and suffer no consequence from their employer for refusing to drive any bus with a cab temperature that exceeds that for the safe transport of livestock in the UK.

 

NEC DECISION

 

We note the resolution from our National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference.

 

We instruct the General Secretary to carry out these instructions in line with the resolution.

 

Any further updates to be placed before this NEC.

 

 

NATIONAL BASIC PUBLIC FIRST AID TRAINING FOR FUTURE YOUNG BUS DRIVERS AND BUS DRIVER APPRENTICES

 

This Transport for Cornwall Branch requests the National Industrial Organising Conference of Bus Workers to call upon the RMT N.E.C. to contact all bus companies where the RMT have recognition to negotiate and agree inclusion in their programmes of training which would provide a nationally recognised basic Public First Aid Training course for prospective bus drivers entering the industry through funded young driver and/or apprenticeship schemes.

 

NEC DECISION

 

We note the resolution from our National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to write to each employer requesting details of their current policy and training.

 

Further updates to be placed before this NEC.

 

 

NATIONAL EMERGENCY EVACUATION TRAINING FOR BUS DRIVERS

 

This Transport for Cornwall Branch requests the National Industrial Organising Conference of Bus Workers to call upon the RMT N.E.C. to contact all bus companies where the RMT have recognition to negotiate and agree a programme of training which would enable a safe method of evacuating passengers facing an emergency - examples of risk are; FIRE or BOMB threat evacuation. 

 

This Branch believes this training could be provided by way of CPC and/or inclusion in induction training.

 

NEC DECISION

 

We note the resolution from our National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference.

 

The General Secretary is instructed to write to each employer requesting details of their current policy and training.

 

To raise this item through our parliamentary group and seek support to gain a ‘minimum standardisation’ across all Bus Operators.

 

Further updates to be placed before this NEC.

 

 

TOILET DIGNITY – BUS WORKERS

 

That this RMT National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference calls upon the RMT N.E.C. to support and campaign for toilet dignity for all bus drivers. Despite the widespread lack of toilet dignity on many UK bus routes, no regional authority or bus operator should be permitted to run a bus service where a working bus driver’s access to a suitable toilet is not guaranteed. Various UK laws and regulations oblige employers to provide hygienic and accessible toilet facilities to workers in the working environment, namely:

 

•           The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace Regulation 1992. 

•           The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

•           The Construction Regulations 2015

•           The Equality Act 2010.

 

Accordingly, this Conference calls upon the RMT N.E.C. to work with the Health and Safety Executive and additionally work with the Labour Unions, Regional Authorities and Bus Operators to:-

 

•           Create a publicly-accessible National Toilet Dignity Database that will name the bus routes, Regional Authorities and bus operators that fail to provide toilet dignity.

•           Create and issue an evidence-based standard for toilet provision for UK bus drivers supported by human factors and health science analysis that will: 

{a} Clearly define the maximum time a bus driver can be deprived guaranteed access to a toilet while working and 

{b} A minimum standard for toilet cleanliness and accessibility.

 

NEC DECISION

 

We note the resolution from our National Bus Workers Industrial Organising Conference.

 

We instruct the General Secretary to carry out these instructions as per the resolution.

 

Any further updates to be placed before this NEC.

 

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring the contents of this circular to the attention of relevant members. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary