Stagecoach workers threaten three months of strike action across Scotland
The Unite union is in a pay row with the bus giant
Stagecoach bus drivers across Scotland are voting on strike action in a row about wages which could affected services until the end of the year.
The Unite union is warning bus routes could be severely disrupted as it ballots around 1,500 workers on taking action from the end of October until January.
As well as drivers the union has members who work as engineering staff, administrative workers, and cleaners.
The ballot covers major bus depots including Angus, Ayrshire, Cumbernauld, Dundee, Dumfries, Fife, Inverness, Highlands and Islands, and Perth.
Stagecoach has described the threat of strike action as "puzzling" and says pay discussions are ongoing.
Workers "infuriated" says union
Dougie Maguire, Unite regional coordinator, said: “Stagecoach’s stance has been nothing short of shocking, and it has infuriated the workforce who have continued to work diligently throughout the Covid pandemic.
The Stagecoach Group is extremely profitable. It also directly benefits from millions of pounds of public funds every year through various Scottish Government schemes, not to mention benefiting from the UK Government’s furlough scheme for the last 18 months.”
“If Stagecoach do not come to their senses, then many of the nation’s major bus routes will grind to a halt if our members vote for industrial action. Remote local communities and showcase events such as the COP26 climate change conference will be severely disrupted.
Passengers will be angry, says Stagecoach
A spokesperson for Stagecoach in Scotland said: "Local people who depend on buses to get to work and access public services, as well as local businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic, will be extremely angry at the threat of completely unnecessary disruption to their bus services.
"The reality is that Covid-19 has resulted in bus passenger numbers being only 70% of pre-pandemic levels.
As a result, services being run by all bus operators require support from the Scottish Government, which does not cover pay awards.
"Separate pay discussions are taking place in different parts of the country and are at different stages. We have put fair offers to Unite in these locations and we very much remain open to continuing discussions with the union to reach agreement."