First Bus driver strikes avoided after last-minute talks result in pay offer

Bus driver strikes due to hit Glasgow this Black Friday weekend have been avoided, after last-minute talks resulted in a new pay offer.

Around 1,200 Unite the Union members were locked in a row about pay with operator First Bus, which would've seen services across Greater Glasgow come to a halt on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

The new pay offer was formally put to Unite this morning, following a further round of talks held at the conciliation service Acas.

The strike action, which was scheduled to start on Friday 24 November and set to last until Friday 1 December is now suspended to allow the membership to be balloted on the new offer.

The bus drivers previously voted by 99 per cent in support of strike action on a turnout of 77 per cent.

Unite industrial officer Willie Thomson, said: “Following intense conciliation talks with First Bus a significantly improved pay offer has been put to the workforce.

"Unite’s 1,200 drivers will be balloted on the new offer and we have agreed to suspend the forthcoming industrial action until this process is complete.”

A spokesperson for First Bus said: “Following further talks with union representatives, we can confirm a new offer will be put forward to union members for ballot by Unite with unanimous recommendation of acceptance.

"As a result, the planned industrial action between Friday 24th November and Friday 1st December has been cancelled.

“We appreciate the uncertainty this will have caused our customers and employees and wish to thank them for their patience while the discussions took place.

“All First Bus services across Greater Glasgow will operate as planned.”

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