Hundreds of Arriva bus workers in Newcastle and Northumberland are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay.
The dispute involves 330 drivers and engineers who are members of the Unite union and are based at the Ashington, Blyth and Walkergate depots.
The union says that workers have been offered a pay increase worth 10% - which would be paid in two stages - for the drivers on the highest pay rate, with other workers receiving considerably lower pay offers. Unite said the offers are a "substantial real terms pay cuts" as the current real rate of inflation (RPI) stands at 13.4%.
READ MORE: Gateshead clairvoyant who beat cancer on exposing cheating partners and mystery illnesses
The ballot opened this week and closes on Thursday, March 30 and if the workers vote in favour of industrial action then strikes could begin after Easter.
Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: “Strike action will cause huge disruption across Newcastle and Northumberland this spring but the dispute is entirely of Arriva’s own making. It has had every opportunity to make an offer that meets members’ expectations but has failed to do so.
“Arriva needs to return to the negotiating table with a realistic offer.”
Unite has said that the rate for a qualified driver is £12.65 an hour and said Arriva, which is owned by German transport company Deutsche Bahn, can afford to increase workers' pay.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva is an incredibly wealthy company which for years has been funneling profits out of the UK economy to its German owners. It can fully afford to pay our members a fair pay increase but has chosen not to.
“Unite is totally focused on the jobs, pay and conditions of all its members and the workers at Arriva will receive the union’s absolute support.”
Arriva told ChronicleLive that it believed its pay offer was "fair and significant" when the company is faced with tackling the challenges posed by inflation.
An Arriva spokeswoman said: "Arriva remains committed to avoiding industrial action and would encourage Unite to ballot on this latest pay offer to prevent strike action.
"We have always worked collaboratively with Unite and we will continue to do so, it is our intention to meet again with the union to continue pay talks. Considering the inflationary challenges, we feel our latest pay offer is fair and significant.
"We will continue to keep our customers and stakeholders updated during this time."
READ NEXT:
- Meet the mum hoping to be crowned Ms Great Britain aged 43 after winning best dressed at Newcastle Ladies' Day in £19 dress
- Inside new Argentinian restaurant Gaucho serving the 'best steak in the world' as it gets set to open in Newcastle
- Look inside the stylish new tearoom in Newcastle city centre with secret cinema
- Inside Aveika as Newcastle Quayside restaurant loved by Harrison Ford undergoes glamorous £300,000 makeover
