TFL Supervisor Blocks WEU Officials

Background: Visit to Stratford Bus Station

On Wednesday 9th September, two Workers of England Representatives visited Stratford Bus Station in London. The purpose of the visit was twofold: to interact with our members and to highlight our Bus Drivers Charter campaign aimed at securing better working conditions for bus drivers.

Denial of Access and Campaigning

To our surprise, the Transport for London Station Supervisor refused to allow us onto the premises. He prevented us from:

• Distributing leaflets supporting better working conditions for bus drivers.
• Speaking directly with any bus driver present.

This action was in contravention of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, which guarantees our right to engage with employees on industrial matters.

Interaction with the Community Officer

As we inquired about the local bye-laws cited by the Supervisor, he refused to provide a copy. A nearby Community Officer overheard these exchanges. The Station Supervisor inaccurately claimed that we had refused to leave the premises. In reality, we were merely requesting documentation to verify his assertions.

Once alerted to this discrepancy, the Community Officer withdrew, suggesting the Supervisor’s intent was to obstruct justice by misleading an official.

Police Involvement

Approximately 30 minutes later, the Supervisor called the police. Upon arrival, the officers seemed more focused on halting our legal activities—namely, speaking to members under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992—than investigating the Supervisor’s misleading statements.

Conclusion: Our Ongoing Campaign

This incident did not deter us. We remain committed to engaging with our members and promoting our campaign for better conditions for bus drivers. It highlights the lengths to which some Transport for London supervisors will go to prevent unions from advocating on behalf of drivers.