Go North East workers will begin strike action later this month following plans to close a County Durham bus depot.
The Chester-le-Street depot, which first opened in 1913, currently holds 78 vehicles and employs around 200 staff. However, Unite the Union says that drivers and engineers have been told by bus operator Go North East they will be moved to other sites, which are located up to 14 miles away, under the proposals.
Now, 170 Unite Union members are set to begin an all out continuous strike action on Friday August 12.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Unite's members are making a stand for the local community. The closure of the Chester-le-Street depot threatens the employment of bus workers and will damage the quality of bus services to local areas.
"Go North East needs to withdraw its poorly thought out closure plans and enter into meaningful negotiations with Unite to ensure an improved service can be implemented.
"Our members at Go North East will receive Unite's total support until this dispute is resolved."
While Unite said Go North East will transfer drivers and engineers to other depots, it added that no assurances for continued employment have been provided to the cleaners and the admin staff at the depot.
The union also said that the proposed closure of the depot coincides with the company's plans to cut routes in the region, which will drastically reduce regional connectivity.
Go North East announced last month that it was planning cuts to dozens more routes across the region in July, after already slashing services in Newcastle and North Tyneside earlier in the year. The company said it was "clear some services won’t recover to the point of being viable" after passenger numbers took a huge hit because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unite regional coordinating officer Mark Sanderson said: "Strike action will inevitably cause disruption to bus passengers in the local area in the short–term but the long-term consequences of closing the Chester-le-Street depot are far greater.
"Go North East must return now to the negotiating table and enter into a full and meaningful consultation with Unite about the future of the depot."
Go North East has been contacted for a comment.
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