DOWNGRADING OF YEOVIL DEPOT TO OUTSTATION – FIRST SOUTH WEST

Our Ref: B/15/1

 

12 January 2024

 

 

Dear RMT Member

 

DOWNGRADING OF YEOVIL DEPOT TO OUTSTATION – FIRST SOUTH WEST

 

Members will recall the recent closures of depots and outstations delivering local bus services in the South West, including by Stagecoach at Bude, also Dartmouth and by FirstBus at Bridgwater.

 

Despite promises to value transport workers after your selfless service during the darkest days of the Covid pandemic, many bus workers are instead now facing mounting job insecurity.

 

The latest announcement of contraction in the sector, relates to First’s operations at Yeovil – specifically, the depot is being demolished/site is being sold.

 

Some of the routes will instead be operated from Wells, others (such as the 54 to Taunton and 58 to Wincanton) are at risk of being lost. 

 

Engineering functions have now been switched to Taunton. Operations at Yeovil will be downgraded to the status of an outstation, likely with no car parking for workers and only a portacabin as a base.

 

FirstBus has again failed to meaningfully consult with your union over its plans. We will therefore be taking robust action to protect the interests of our members at this depot and working in the sector more broadly.

 

Your Regional Organiser has recommended carrying out the following action points:

 

• write to the company putting on record their failure again to consult

 

• organise a visit to Yeovil depot and attend in person the Yeovil branch’s AGM on 21 January

 

• convene an online meeting with all our FirstBus reps across the region to discuss developments

 

• engage with the Trades Council and SW TUC

 

• lobby for additional funding for the bus sector from Somerset Council and campaign with local politicians

 

Your Regional Organiser has already began actioning the above points and developments will be reported to your union’s National Executive Committee.

 

I will write to you again on this matter in due course and hope the above has kept you updated on the latest situation.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

Michael Lynch

General Secretary