Stagecoach Manchester in 'insulting' toilet message shame

Unite has strongly criticised bus firm Stagecoach after it sent a message out to drivers in Manchester telling them that if they need to relieve themselves in a bottle to make sure they take it away with them, while not providing adequate toilet facilities for staff.

The message, titled 'quick pit stop reminder' and sent to workers via its company intranet, said: "If nature calls while you're on the go and you have to use a bottle for a quick comfort break (we get it - tight schedules happen), please make sure to take it with you and dispose of it properly. 

"Let's keep our buses fresh, clean and respectful for everyone - including your fellow drivers." 

Unite has long been campaigning for toilet dignity at work, as thousands of workers working in many sectors do not have easy access to a bathroom. This is despite the fact the law states employers must provide 'adequate' toilet facilities for everyone in the workplace. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus operators in the country and there is no excuse for sending an insulting message like this to staff. 

"While bus firms such as Stagecoach turn over huge profits, their workers don't only have to contend with low pay and a lack of toilets, they have to contend with their employer blaming them for a situation not of their own making and treating them with contempt. 

"This is intolerable and Unite will not stand by and allow our members to be insulted. We have long campaigned for workers to have proper access to toilets - any employer who does not do this, will be exposed." 

Workers at Stagecoach in Manchester have described the message as an "insult", while female bus drivers at the firm have said the message does not address their needs as they have no option of being able to urinate anywhere other than a bathroom. 

One worker said: “Toilet facilities have always been an issue for female drivers and Stagecoach needs to work at getting extra facilities for everyone. Seeing that message made me feel mortified as encouraging workers to wee in a bottle means anyone could see them do that. 

“Stuff like this shouldn’t be happening in this day and age. The company putting messages out like this is unacceptable, especially as it is constantly on your case to get routes done.” 

Another worker pointed out that the most frequent service in Greater Manchester, the 192, used to have a staffed toilet and proper facilities at the end of the route, but this has now been closed and the replacement rarely works and is not cleaned. 

They said: "We have long been pushing for Stagecoach to recognise that schedules we are working under don't allow enough time for comfort breaks, but it is focused on running the buses as close to optimum running time as possible rather than improving conditions for us. 

"The message has caused a lot of anger as our employer recognises scheduling is too tight and say this explicitly, are encouraging drivers to urinate in bottles but are not doing anything to address the problem. Women drivers have quite rightly complained and said, 'what about us?'. 

"Receiving this is especially galling after Stagecoach closed our proper facilities and haven't left us with an adequate replacement. It feels like Stagecoach is putting profits over people." 

The absence of toilet dignity and the lack of access to clean decent toilets for long periods is one that has been causing growing anger and resentment among bus drivers nationwide and there have been several industrial disputes on the issue in recent years. 

Unite national officer for passenger transport Wayne King said: "Stagecoach clearly knows there’s not enough facilities. It knows drivers are being forced to use bottles. It knows the schedules are too tight for them to have proper toilet breaks. 

"If Stagecoach had even the slightest care for the welfare of its staff it would be making sure there are facilities throughout a route so bottles aren’t needed. Its attitude towards its staff is disgusting.” 

The message comes as over 1,000 drivers at Stagecoach in Greater Manchester at the Oldham, Stockport and Middleton depots are walking out from today (September 19 to September 22) then September 30 to October 2 in a dispute over pay. The strikes are part of a co-ordinated series of industrial action with other firms in Manchester's integrated Bee  .