A major bus strike that was set to involve more than 100 drivers and cause travel chaos across the North East has been called off.
Bus drivers employed by operator Arriva had been due to take part in industrial action starting on Friday, October 21 over plans to close the Jesmond depot. The listed building on Portland Road is due to close down at the end of the month after Arriva sold the site saying it was "no longer suitable for modern bus operations."
During the dispute, Unite union said that the depot closure, set to take place on Monday, October 31, threatens jobs and will result in a poorer bus service throughout Newcastle and Northumberland. But now Arriva and the Unite union have confirmed that the strike will no longer go ahead after an agreement was reached with drivers.
An Arriva spokeswoman said: "Arriva are pleased to confirm that following constructive consultation with Unite, the proposed industrial action which was due to commence on Friday, October 21 will no longer take place."
Unite said that the bus company put forward a "substantially improved offer" after extensive negotiations. Drivers voted to accept the offer which included daily relocation payments and one-off payments in months following the depot's closure.
Unite regional officer, Dave Telford, said: “After extensive negotiations, Arriva offered the employees affected a substantially improved offer which consisted of daily relocation payments and a series of one-off payments over the coming months. Following a ballot, this offer was accepted and the dispute has concluded.”
READ NEXT:
- Newcastle restaurant closes just six months after opening on Dean Street
- Kim Kardashian watches Whitley Bay model in New York Fashion Week show with Bella Hadid - this is how it happened
- Seven Stories in Newcastle launches Christmas events with free entry for adults to help struggling families
- Popular Gin and Rum Festival returns to Newcastle with freebies up for grabs
- Ouseburn's Arch 2 Brewpub says goodbye to popular Thali Tray as it gets set to launch new food offering
