Stagecoach claims Cambridge bus drivers set for Christmas strikes 'highest paid in region'
Staff are due to walk out for five days over the Christmas period
A bus operator claims its Cambridge drivers who are set to go on strike this Christmas are the "highest paid in the region".
The Unite union said workers have rejected a fresh pay deal that would see overtime rates fall by 12% from Monday to Friday and by 20% at weekends and bank holidays.
Darren Roe, managing director at Stagecoach East, said he's "disappointed that our offer of a pay increase has been rejected by drivers and engineers at Cambridge.
"Not only are Cambridge drivers the highest paid in the region compared to other operators in the area, with average earnings of £45,273, they have been awarded pay rises that were well above inflation in previous years.
“This strike action will cause unnecessary disruption across our Cambridge-based communities, and we urge the trade union members and Unite the Union to reconsider their position."
Around 200 workers are due to walk out on December 17, 20, 22, 24 and 27, with bus services in the city severely expected to be disrupted.
Stagecoach can afford pay deal, says union
Unite said Stagecoach made profits of £97.3 million in the year to April last year on sales of £1.6 billion.
“Stagecoach is a profitable company and can absolutely afford to offer a pay deal that does not reduce overtimes rates," Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said.
"Stagecoach’s Cambridge workforce has Unite’s full support in taking strike action to achieve that.”
The union added that strike action can be avoided, but only if an acceptable offer by the company was made.
Resolution
Mr Roe - who said staff at its other local depots in Peterborough and Fenstanton have accepted similar pay offers - believes Stagecoach will do all it can to reduce the impact of the planned strikes.
“We were prepared to offer an increase of 5.7% this year, above the rate of inflation, and 3% in year two, this award was achieved through negotiation, with the increase part-funded through overtime rate reductions," he added.
“We remain committed to ensuring that drivers do receive an affordable pay increase, and we call on Unite to review their pay request and meet with us to reach a resolution to avoid industrial action."
Councillor Alex Miscandlon, mayor of Whittlesey, told us he was against plans to walk out.
"Strikes don't generate money, they lose money for the drivers, the company; yes we all want more money, but you have to be realistic," he said.