PLATFORM was formed in September 1976 as a pressure group in the Transport Union to help busworkers West Yorkshire around specific issues.
At first, there was talk that we proposed to t HE SUIC a threat to the existing union structure. But The local TGWU now under sands our tole within the union progressive influence on its policy and day-to-day decisions, One of our hest known activities is the production of our monthly magazine Metro Platform. At first, we took up the issues bus cuts. carovini de union demo.
rank control, health and safety, and general conditions and wages of busworkers.
Since then. the Leeds Platform Toended and produced hy group interested busworkers expanded into Metri Platform. It now invohes workers in Huddersfield as well as Leeds.
JOINT STEWARDS Faced metro-wide manapement, so in addition to a metro-wide Platform, we are fighting for a metro-wide TGWU joint shop stewards commillee.
The most consistent issue we have campaigned around has been bus cuts.
setbacks have occurred.
example, last year the Brad ford area struck, but was not supported hy Leeds.
Now the chickens coming home to roost, Leeds is faced with major cuts of it" own. And once again, the need i clear for an effective jount shop routh our acti stewards in have been able to develop close relations West Yorkshire Transport group transports users group have consistently opposed the Cuts.
TRAVELLERS Platform believes that fare rises lose passengers, which in turn loses revenue. And so, a vicious spiral of cuts is set up. Because of this, Platformn has willingly provided speakers to support, and seck support, for various initiatives throughout the Community Associations and labour movement.
transport organised is chaotic. why we afflinted to Transport 2000 local branch. We are absolutely against lism. There has lobbies for the Union Linion. Our policy is clear. We support integrated transport. and That means a fight for a whole cake of sufficient size - not just our own slice.
The group meets monthly lo coordinate these policies. produce our paper, and to press for the implementation of our policies in the union. ROD DAVEY. secretary of the Metro Platform LEEDS busworkers unanimously continue their strike against For КОЛЕНН bring transport cuts.
Monday, workers in the other three areas of West Yorkshire Joined the are strike in solidarity with Leeds. committee.
with the Passenger a public who sectionaSITAIL Railworkers Transport Union newspapers The NUJ leadership voled decide at the end of this week Sunday whether to call out all 1,400 which would journalists in the regional group on indefinite strike. tus- A third of the journalists have already either been locked out for imposing sanctions or are. action.
The dispute, which began on the Evening CARDIFF journalists lock out by Thomson regional newspapers. The Times and Sunday Times time if they don't agree to knuckle under.
of Journalists Thomson one of the largest provincial press chains. GEOFFREY SHERIDAN reports.
will way technology.
ENSICA sacked for taking taking solidarity strike CONFETTI Post-Echo, also part of Thomson — have just announced that all their workers will be locked out in two monthe regional management. for job-saving new working weeks aд0 journalists on the Echo were improve on a 17.09 a week narional pay settlement. They refused to accept a loss of jols detbe price for a productivity other As the NUU chapel on the the Western Mail and South Wales Echo in Cardiff put it: worked to rule by refusing to go out of our way to heip our Normally we do this by uspaid overtime meal breaks, and working on more than one joh time." Management responded with a lockout.
In Cardiff and Reading. tbe journaliss have produced regular paper to report their Jocal and The Cardil! paper has so far made a profit pucket line However. prineworkers in the NGA and SOGAT have been told to scab by their unions.
PROTRACTED The bartle could well be protracted. Thomson, which last ycar made a profit of ver I9ot in is regional alone, can sustain is plan to weaken the journalists through its assets in North Sea Oil, TV. and package holdays.
"Another of the newspaper baronie: take journalists is the Westatinster