On Tuesday 26th January 2010 at Ealing Council's cabinet meeting it was decided by the cabinet that due to the limited progress made to date with their "earlier conciliatory approach" to Transport for London and London United, to address the problems that arise through the poor management of bus operations at the route 94 bus stand in Acton Green, it authorised council officers to remove the bus stand. The council will also write again to TfL and the bus operator London United to try to progress this issue, express concern over the issue and insist upon urgent action.

A gang of First employees took more than £200,000 in bribes to let dozens of unqualified drivers drive buses. The men worked at First's Marsh Lane depot in Tottenham. They would charge between £1,500 and £2,500 to supply bogus test certificates and paperwork. Many of those who paid could not even speak English or even understand road signs.

A new police team has been drafted on to a bus route labelled as one of the most dangerous, in an attempt to crack down on drunken fights and violent scuffles. The team has been told to mainly concentrate on the 29 and N29.

The 29 and N29 bendy bus, which runs from Trafalgar Square to Wood Green, has long been notorious for reports of pickpocketing, violence, drunkenness and fare evasion. In recent years incidents have included a 19 year old being punched to the ground and needing major surgery and a 23 year old being stabbed.

On 18th December 2009, First was fined £400,000 plus costs after it was found guilty of breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

The next Hammersmith & City branch meeting will take place on Wednesday 3rd March from 5pm at The Exmouth Arms, 1, Starcross Street, Euston, NW1 2HR. The nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square.

An RMT London Busworkers Committee meeting will take place on Monday 8th February 2010 between 5pm -7pm at The Bulstrode public house, 55, Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 1JG. The pub is situated next to Hounslow Central tube station.

Important recent developments and issues will be discussed at the meeting as well as an election taking place for convenors. All RMT members are welcome to attend.

The next meeting of the Hammersmith and City line branch will take place on Wednesday 3rd February from 5pm at The Exmouth Arms, 1, Starcross Street, Euston, London, NW1 2HR

The nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square.

The 67th National Busworkers Conference will be held on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April 2010, at the Elstead Hotel, 12-14, Knyveton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3QP

The conference will be composed of duly elected delegates from branches with bus membership. Each branch with less than 100 members may send two delegates. Branches with more than 100 members may send two delegates for the first 100 members with one additional delegate for every 100 members or part thereafter.

The Regional Council Executive endorsed this resolution on behalf of the Regional Council at its meeting on 9 February 2010.

This Regional Council has been informed that Diane Abbot MP supported the former Mayor Ken Livingstone’s policy to privatise the East London Line. Also she did not sign the Early Day Motion regarding the issue.

If this is true then Ms Abbot has broken the policy of this union and the principles of our Parliamentary Group.

First faces a fine after being convicted of a health and safety "shambles" over the death of one of it's drivers.

Robert Cherry, 59, was crushed to death when he was trapped between two buses at a depot in Uxbridge belonging to Centrewest London, a subsidiary of First UK group. Robert had been collecting a can of water to top up his vehicle's engine when the gear stick of the bus in front slipped and the vehicle reversed into him. He was pinned between the first bus and the one behind, which was in turn thrown back into a third vehicle. He died at the scene of the accident.

On Saturday 29th November 2008 Metroline employee Patrick Docherty started work at a quarter to four in the afternoon. By 5.15pm he was involved in a tragic accident on Westbourne Terrace in Paddington.

Foreign student Karin Duphey, a 22-year-old dutch national was crossing a zebra crossing when she was hit by Patrick's single decker route 46 bus. She had barely been in the country three months and was studying Fashion Marketing at Westminster University.

It's time to join the RMT Fines Pool. The Fines Pool, which is operated on a yearly basis, starts on 1st January and ends on 31st December every year. The cost of membership of the Fines Pool is one payment of £5.00 per year.

There are a number of ways to join. You can join by filling in a joining form and pay by cheque or cash to the Fines Pool collector, who is usually your branch secretary or hand it in or send it with a cheque made payable to the RMT Fines Pool to Unity House.

An RMT London Busworkers Committee meeting will take place on Monday 14th December 2009, from 4-6pm at The Exmouth Arms, 1, Starcross Street, Euston, London, NW1 2HR. The nearest tube stations are Euston and Euston Square. For a map click here

Ballots have concluded for the Willesden Green Group, Alstom staff at Stratford Depot, EDF employees and the drivers at Hammersmith & City Depot.

Alstom, EDF and Willesden Green Group members all voted a resounding YES for both strike action and action short of a strike. The Hammersmith & City Depot dispute was resolved and therefore the ballot cancelled.

See the full article for the circular from Bob Crow, General Secretary