Those wanting to travel by bus this weekend can expect chaos as First Bus drivers go on strike.
From Sunday, June 18, a planned industrial action will take place and 800 workers are expected to walk out. Bus users can expect a limit service as 57 routes will be impacted.
It comes as staff want to strike over company’s refusal to move pay anniversary date back to normal. Unite members agreed during the pandemic to change their anniversary pay date to October to assist the company financially. First West Yorkshire has refused to move the date back to April however, meaning workers have been left struggling during the cost-of-living crisis and will not receive a much needed pay increase until October at the earliest.
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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 disappointed in the decision of UNITE to announce strike action. The current agreement on pay, which was signed by UNITE and its officials, is in place and agreed until October 2023.
"The management team at First North & West Yorkshire have been working hard to find solutions to help our valued drivers during these tough economic times and have made a series of substantial and unconditional offers to satisfy demands. These remain on the table and have yet to be put to our Leeds drivers by the UNITE representatives, therefore the union’s efforts should focus on this and not on industrial action while collective bargaining continues.
"The First North & West Yorkshire team is ready and willing to meet and we encourage Unite to join us so we can finalise a settlement and help our drivers to manage the continuing pressure on the cost of living that everyone is facing as quickly as possible."
All the services affected on Sunday June 18:
1
1B
N1
2
3
3A
4
4F
5
5A
6
8
7
7A
7S
9A
11A
12
13
13A
14
15
16
16A
19
19A
27
28
33
34
38
39
40
42
46
47
47A
49
50
50A
51
52
55
55C
56
62
64
65
74
75
86
91
PR1
PR2
PR3
X84
Flexi Bus
All other bus operator’s services will operate as normal in Leeds:
- A&A Coach Travel 30
- Arriva Yorkshire 21, 22, 110, 118, 140, 140A, 141, 163, 164, 168, 174, 175, 200, 201, 202, 203, 229, 254, 255,425, 444, 446
- Connexions Buses 11, 64, 781, 940, 963
- First (Bradford) 72, X6, X11
- First (Calderdale) 508
- Flyer A1, A2 & A3
- Harrogate Bus Company 7, 36, X98 & X99
- Keighley Bus Company 60, 940
- Station Coaches 116, 213
- Square Peg 9, 31, 31, 32, 80, 81, 966
- TLC Travel 205, 653
- Yorkshire Coastliner 840, 843
- York Pullman
- Dales Bus
- Yorkshire Buses 9, 29, 29A, 61, 61A
First Bus in Bradford, Halifax, Calder Valley and Huddersfield are expected to operate as normal. School services will also operate as normal.
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