Bus drivers to be balloted on strike action
Unite claims drivers are paid more elsewhere - but Go Ahead says it's the highest pay in the South West
Almost 600 Plymouth bus drivers are being balloted for strike action in a row over pay.
The Unite Union say drivers in other parts of the country are paid more for the same roles', claiming Go Ahead drivers in Oxford are currently paid £2.84 more per hour than the Plymouth drivers, while drivers in Brighton are paid £1.83 more.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Plymouth Bus drivers will not be treated as second class employees by Go Ahead any longer. This is a highly profitable company and can well afford to put forward a better offer. Go Ahead’s Plymouth drivers have their union’s total support.”
"We are all disheartened that we have not reached agreement"
Richard Stevens, Managing Director for Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall Bus said,
“We are all disheartened that we have not reached agreement for this year’s review of pay.
"The company has put forward two above inflation pay offers to colleagues. Both have been rejected by Unite members who have voted against acceptance in two workplace ballots.
"Our bus drivers’ hourly rate we believe continues to be the highest in the Southwest and is the most the company can afford to pay without impact to services.
"Last year the drivers received an increase in pay of 11.8%, sadly Unite the Union refuse to recognise the reality of the operational and financial situation the company is in, with this demand for an 18.9% pay increase.
"We have always been and continue to engage in meaningful negotiations, sadly we now must await the strike ballot result, expected soon after 1st July to see if Unite the Union are prepared to engage in a discussion that avoids the pain and disruption of a strike being inflicted on our customers and team members”.
"It wants to employ drivers on the cheap"
Unite regional officer Dave Smith said: “Go Ahead is set on causing chaos to Plymouth’s travelling public because it wants to employ drivers in the city on the cheap.
"There is still time to avoid industrial action, but that requires Go Ahead to put forward an acceptable offer that considers the large pay disparity between Plymouth and its operations elsewhere.”
The industrial action ballot will close on 1 July, and the union says strikes, which could begin later next month, would completely shut down Plymouth’s bus network.