More than 60 First Glasgow workers are threatening industrial action following a dispute over pay.
Unite trade union members will hold an industrial action ballot after First Glasgow offered the group of workers, which includes bus cleaners and shunters, 5.5 per cent over two years.
The offer would take some workers to £9.48 per hour backdated to August 2021, which is two pence below the adult minimum wage from April this year of £9.50 per hour. From April onwards, the company then has to comply with the current national minimum wage levels.
The offer was unanimously rejected in a recent consultative ballot in a 97% turnout.
In December 2021, more than 1,300 First Glasgow bus drivers received inflation-busting pay rises of up to 21.5% over two years depending on length of service.
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If the ballot for industrial action is successful then strike action is expected to take place from early May to late July 2022.
The First Glasgow companies involved in the dispute had a combined profit totalling £12.6m for 2020 according to annual reports filed with Companies House.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “First Bus’s offer is a complete insult. It’s two pence less the adult minimum wage for this year but with First Glasgow’s companies sitting on £12.6 million in profits – they have no business whatsoever keeping workers on breadline wages. Our members are standing up against boardroom greed and will have the full support of Unite in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, added: “Unite’s cleaners and shunters are the heart of the company, and they are the glue that keeps all the other sections together. Without this workforce, First Glasgow could not operate. Yet, they are being treated without any respect and they are on poverty pay with inferior terms and conditions. It’s shameful that the workers are having to resort to an industrial action ballot.”
Duncan Cameron, Managing Director for First Bus Scotland, responded today: “We have been notified by Unite of plans to conduct a consultative ballot on industrial action with fleet and facilities support members in First Glasgow. We are in negotiations with union representatives and constructive dialogue will continue as part of that process.
“I can confirm all First Bus employees meet current national minimum wage rates and will continue to meet that criteria when the new national minimum wage comes into effect on April 1 2022.
“Since March 2020, passenger numbers have fallen by nearly a third and have still not fully recovered. As a business, we want to reward and recognise our team members but we have to balance that against rising operational costs we are currently experiencing.
“It is essential First Glasgow continues to operate on a financially sustainable basis to allow for further reinvestment in zero emissions vehicles to continue our journey towards a fully zero emission fleet by 2035.”
