People are warning of "absolute chaos" as all Arriva buses in Merseyside will not run from today and for the foreseeable future as a continuous strikes begin.
Arriva has confirmed they will not be able to run any services across the region from 2am on Wednesday, July 20, when the continuous walk-out gets underway. The action comes after talks between Arriva and the Unite and GMB unions failed to reach an agreement over pay.
There will be no planned Arriva bus services operating within Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Cheshire, except for local Macclesfield services which will all run with the exception of service 38. For the duration of the industrial action journey planning in the north west region on the Arriva website and Arriva UK Bus App will be disabled.
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Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets travelling in Cheshire will be able to use them on buses operated by D&G Buses. The special Liverpool Clatterbridge Hospital Shuttle service will also continue to operate during this time.
Howard Farrall, North West & Wales Area Operating Director for Arriva UK Bus said: “We are very disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with Unite and GMB, who have confirmed they plan to hold a strike for an indefinite period across services in the North West from 2am Wednesday July 20. Our people play a hugely important role keeping Merseyside moving and they fully deserve a fair pay rise – especially with the cost-of-living increasing so much.
"It’s why despite the significant pressures on the bus sector with increasing costs and passenger numbers still at below pre-pandemic levels, we have offered our people a generous pay rise of 8.5% - an increase far higher than most workers are receiving from their employers at a time of considerable economic pressure."
Arriva claims the offer would see its bus drivers in Merseyside receive an hourly rate of £14.67, which it says would be the highest rate of major operators in the north west and an offer higher than Unite has recommended for approval with another operator in the Liverpool City Region.
Unite pointed out that the other operator mentioned was Stagecoach and that planned strikes with that company were only called off after an offer of over 11% pay deal was agreed. Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: "Arriva bus workers play a crucial role in keeping the North West moving.
"This dispute has been fermenting for years as bus drivers have seen their hard work taken for granted and rates of pay steadily eroded.
"Unite remains committed to resolving the dispute at the earliest possible opportunity and it will embark on fresh negotiations any time, any place and anywhere, provided Arriva is prepared to make an improved offer."
Arriva boss Mr Farrall added: "Strike action is counter-productive, harms the communities and customers we serve, and damages bus travel at a time when we should all be focused on building recovery from the pandemic. We’re calling on Unite and GMB to abandon their plans for this damaging strike and to ballot their members on the new offer.”
ECHO readers took to the comments section to express their worries for the strikes, saying they would cause "absolute chaos".
Marc Faulkner said: "As the main operator locally, this is going to cause absolute chaos, but of course I stand in solidarity with the workforce who are only fighting for a fair days pay for a hard days work. At £11.08 per hour they are being paid £10k per year less than the UK median income for a full time worker, and a little over half the UK mean average income for a full time worker.
"Saying they earn more than the “minimum wage” is all well and good, but the simple fact is that the minimum is woefully inadequate and often needs to be supported by welfare benefits."
Kathy Murphy said: "Am all for everyone striking just feel sorry for workers without transport trying to get into their low payed jobs to line our governments pockets."
Danielle Marie Anne said: "Solidarity for standing up to fair wages and working conditions.it takes bottle and a further loss to individuals to make a difference. Nothing ever changes without discomfort for some and historically worse."
Rebecca Quinn said: "I’m inconvenienced by this. I’m still in total solidarity with them. A change of travel plans for a while Vs being able to earn enough to live & feed your family = no contest."
Arriva has urged all customers to check its Twitter and Facebook feeds before travelling. Customers can also call 0344 800 44 11 for updates.
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No Arriva buses across Merseyside from tomorrow as continuous strike begins
