National Express bus strikes back on
It's after Unite accused the firm of 'union busting'
National Express bus drivers in the West Midlands are walking out on strike from Monday, in a dispute over pay.
The Unite union says the action by members will impact 93 per cent of the region's bus network as 3,100 workers take part.
Industrial action due to begin on Thursday was temporarily called off after an improved pay offer.
The union claims the strikes are back on after National Express refused to allow drivers to vote on its latest offer during meetings at their depots.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our members at National Express – attempts at union busting by the company will not change that. They will receive Unite’s complete and utter support during these strikes for a fair pay rise.”
A spokesperson for National Express West Midlands said: “This is an outrageous and calculating misrepresentation of what has happened. We have been calling for a vote all along and people can see our previous comments on that. We want our drivers to have a chance to make up their own minds on our improved offer.
“We improved our offer to 14.3% on the base rate in year one and we added certainty - at Unite’s request - for years two and three at 3.5% and 2.2%. Not only that but we were willing to give an Inflation Guarantee so that if inflation was above either 4% in year two or 3% in year three, we’d have re-opened the negotiations. Unite’s right hand clearly doesn’t know what its left hand is doing.
“The real victims in this whole scenario will be the people of the West Midlands who just want to go about their daily lives and not have to contend with the disruption and chaos that this strike will bring. To them, we say we are sincerely sorry and we are doing all we can to avoid this happening.
“We believe drivers should have their say in a free and fair way. We believe in a democratic process and support a confidential ballot. Why are Unite so scared of democracy? Let our people have their say.”