Cambridge bus drivers to still strike despite fresh pay deal
Stagecoach East said it's already imposed a pay rise
Around 200 bus drivers in Cambridge are still going on strike today despite a pay rise being imposed.
Stagecoach East managing director Darren Roe said he put through a 4% pay increase late last month.
But Unite the union believes a pay rise that reflects the demands of the job hasn't been agreed.
Mr Roe said since September, several meetings have taken place to find a settlement.
“I was conscious that we have already been successful in reaching pay agreements with our other two depots in Cambridgeshire, and did not want to leave our Cambridge team without a pay increase this year," he said.
"I wanted our staff to receive an increase in consideration of their hard work."
'Acceptable offer'
In a statement, Mr Roe said the latest pay rise for Cambridge drivers came in on December 28, 0.8% above inflation.
But he added "there were no changes to any of their overtime rates or terms and conditions, based on the feedback from our employees."
Despite the pay rise, Unite members are still expected to walk out on January 19 and 24, following on from last month's strikes.
"There is still time to call the strikes off, but for that to happen Stagecoach must come back with an offer that is acceptable to our members," Mark Plumb, Unite's regional officer, said.
Unite say Stagecoach made profits of £97.3 million in the year to April 2024.
The union said the company has "more than enough money to table an offer that reflects the demands and stresses of the job."