Bus drivers going on strike everyday from Sunday in Leeds
Around 800 First West Yorkshire bus drivers will begin strike action every day from 18 June, over a row over pay
First say they offered Unite members a 12 per cent increase between now and April next year, with a further increase in October, and again in April 2024.
However, Unite say workers agreed during the pandemic to change their anniversary pay date to October to help the company financially, and that hasn't been moved back.
The union claim it's left struggling.
Those walking out are based at First West Yorkshire’s two Leeds depots, meaning services across the city will be severely affected.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “When First West Yorkshire needed its drivers to dig deep for the company, they did.
"Not only did they put their and their families’ health on the line by continuing to drive First buses, they also agreed to delay getting a pay rise.
“First Group have taken advantage of this sacrifice to keep their drivers’ wages down as inflation has rocketed.
"Our members are absolutely right to strike at what is essentially a stab in the back by First West Yorkshire and they will receive Unite’s total support.”
Andrew Cullen, Managing Director of First North & West Yorkshire, said:
“We are very disappointed and dismayed at the decision to continue with strike action in Leeds.
“The generous pay offer we made to the union of a 12 per cent increase between now and April next year is well above inflation and would have helped our drivers to manage the cost of living as quickly as possible.
“Part of this pay increase would have been implemented now with further rises in October and again in April 2024.
“The current agreement on pay, which was signed by Unite and its officials, is in place and agreed until October 2023. The anniversary date was changed during Covid in order to safeguard jobs and to enable us to offer an enhanced sick pay scheme during the pandemic.
“As part of our discussions, we listened to Unite’s request to return the anniversary date to April and as part of the offer we agreed to do this and therefore the next pay review date would be April 2025.”
He added: “Industrial action will be damaging to everyone and cause severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments."
Here's the details of the limited services from Sunday:
ROUTE:
1 Hourly
1B Sorry, no service
N1 Sorry, no service
2 Hourly
3 Every 03 and 23 past the hour
3A Hourly
4 Hourly
4F Sorry, no service
5 Hourly
6 & 8 Every 30 mins
7 Hourly
7A & 7S Sorry, no service
9A Sorry, no service
11A Sorry, no service
12 Hourly to Roundhay Park
13 Hourly to Brackenwood
13A Hourly
12 & 13 Every 20 mins to Middleton
14 Sorry, no service
15 Sorry, no service
16 Hourly
16A Sorry, no service
19 & 19A Sorry, no service
27 Sorry, no service
28 Sorry, no service
33 Sorry, no service
34 Hourly
38 Hourly
39 Sorry, no service
40 Hourly
42 Hourly
46 Sorry, no service
47 & 47A Sorry, no service
49 Sorry, no service
50 Hourly to 11:16 then hourly till 17:18
50A Sorry, no service
51 Sorry, no service
52 Every 30 mins (no journey at 13:20)
55 & 55C Sorry, no service
56 Hourly
62 Sorry, no service
64 Sorry, no service
65 Sorry, no service
74 Sorry, no service
75 Sorry, no service
X84 Sorry, no service
86 Sorry, no service
91 Sorry, no service
PR1 Every 15 mins
PR2 Sorry, no service
PR3 Every 15 mins
Flexi Bus Sorry, no service