WATCH: First bus drivers in Aberdeen vote for more strike action
The action was suspended last week after talks with bosses
Last updated 9th Apr 2018
It's back to the picket for First Bus Drivers in Aberdeen - after an offer from bosses, put on the table after talks with ACAS last week - was rejected by Unite members.
It's all over a pay and conditions row, with drivers saying they'd be working longer under new contracts for less money.
David Phillips, Operations Director for First Aberdeen said:
“Firstly, we would like to begin by apologising to our customers for the on-going disruption that further industrial action is likely to cause as we very much hoped to be getting our services back to normal.
“First Aberdeen are extremely disappointed by the news that the Unite the Union members have voted to reject our final offer proposal on the revised terms and conditions.
“This agreement was reached with the Unite the Union representatives via the ACAS collective conciliation talks, where management were extremely transparent about the precarious financial position that the company finds itself in. During these talks, we were absolutely clear that this was the best and final offer on the table despite the current reality of the situation facing the business in the city.
“We were willing to go to these extra lengths to get the city’s bus services back to normal and end the disruption, so to see this voted down via ballot is very concerning indeed. The company will now need to take some time to digest this result and to weigh up the next steps as the costs to the business and falling revenues we are currently enduring simply cannot be sustained. The changes to terms and conditions were introduced to reshape our cost base to ensure that there is a future for the business in the city.”
Willie Wallace, Unite Regional Officer said: “Unite has been prepared to negotiate and make concessions. It’s not us who are unreasonable. It’s the intransigence of First Bus management which is, in effect, holding the people and businesses of Aberdeen to ransom.”
Staff will walk out again on Wednesday - this time the action is indefinite, and will only end if a resolution can be reached.