London bus workers win Olympic bonus - Daily Telegraph
However in the case of tube drivers this reflected the change in shift patterns which will come into force during the Games with services running later into the night.
The decision to offer bonuses to all bus drivers, irrespective of whether the Games will have any impact on their working day was condemned by Priti Patel, Tory MP for Witham.
“It is quite extraordinary,” said “It sends out the wrong signal in an age of austerity to be handing out cash payments to people who are doing nothing other than their day job.”
The union had justified its claim saying that bus drivers faced a bigger workload because of the additional passengers who will use the network during the Olympics.
"After almost a year long campaign, bus workers finally have a fair deal which recognises their contribution to keeping London moving over the Olympics,” said Peter Kavanagh, Unite’s general secretary for London.
"Major disruption to London's transport network and international embarrassment in the run-up to the Olympics could have been avoided if TfL and the employers did the right thing when Unite first approached them almost a year ago.
“Instead bus workers had to fight tooth and nail to get recognition.”
London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony Cut by 30 Minutes over G4S Security Fears - ibtimes.co.uk
A source told the Sun that the cut was another result of the G4S security farce, which emerged after revelations that the company can guarantee only 4,200 of a promised 10,400 security workers for the games.
The source said: "The show has been cut because of fears that the checkpoints couldn't cope with the huge rush in and out of the stadium.
One billion-strong TV audience
"It's not just crowds of fans, athletes and performers G4S and our soldiers will have to cope with - it's dozens of live animals as well."
A spokesman for organising committee Locog played down the security fears, saying the cuts were just to ensure spectators will make it home.
He said: "Performers are rehearsing sections and transitions to ensure they are as tight as possible. This is normal in any production, whether it be theatre or ceremonies.
"We need to make sure the show comes in on time to make sure spectators can get home on public transport, so we have taken the tough decision to cut a small stunt bike sequence of the show.
"We will be paying contracts in full and giving full credit in the programme. The show is set to finish between 12am and 12.30am."
The ceremony is expected to have a worldwide TV audience of one billion and involve some 10,000 performers and 16,000 athletes.
The head of G4S, Nick Buckles, told the home affairs committee that it still intended to claim its £57m management fee for Olympics security despite the ongoing staffing concerns.
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