Crunch votes will take place this week that could bring an end to more than three weeks of Arriva bus strikes..
Today marks the 27th continuous day of bus strikes by Arriva drivers but drivers could be back on the roads this week. There have been no Arriva services across the whole of Merseyside during the entire dispute.
The dispute is largely over pay and talks have repeatedly broken down between the major bus operator and the Unite and GMB unions that represent the drivers. But on Friday, the first signs of a potential breakthrough emerged.
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In a statement, Arriva said that during fresh talks at the end of the week Arriva tabled an improved pay offer for staff. In a significant development, the company confirmed that this offer will now be taken by the unions to its members via a ballot.
This is the first time during this lengthy dispute that the unions have deemed an offer from Arriva suitable for a vote by workers. There will be real hope now that the strikes could be very close to ending.
The crucial votes on the new offer will take place today and tomorrow and Arriva said it was now hopeful of ending the dispute and getting its buses back on the roads of Merseyside and across the north west by Wednesday. A company spokesperson said: "Following re-convened pay negotiations today, Arriva has tabled an improved offer that has enabled Unite the Union and GMB to ballot members on this offer. The ballot will take place on Monday, 15th and Tuesday, 16th August 2022.
"All parties are working hard to bring the industrial action to a conclusion with the desire to resume service on Wednesday, 17th August.” The ongoing strike over drivers’ pay has meant there have been no Arriva services across Merseyside for more than three weeks."
The breakthrough came just a day after a major political intervention was made by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson and a host of council leaders and Members of Parliaments from across Merseyside. In a joint letter, the leaders said: "
The Arriva dispute is one of a number resulting in strike action across the region. There have also been rail strikes organised by the RMT and ASLEF unions, post office workers have also walked out on strike. This morning contract staff at the Liverpool-based Disclosure and Barring Service began a six day walk-out with a picket of the Tithebarn Street premises.
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