Merseyside is set to face a day of double bus strikes next week as staff from the region's two main operators walk out at the same time.
Disputes between the Unite union and both Stagecoach and Arriva have failed to reach a resolution, meaning staff from both companies are set to walk out next Wednesday.
The Arriva dispute affects 1800 workers across the whole north west and also involves the GMB union. Earlier this month workers voted overwhelmingly to strike over what Unite says was a 'pitiful' pay offer. The ECHO understands further talks have not reached a resolution and as things stand, that first region-wide walk out will take place on Wednesday.
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An Arriva spokesperson today said: "We are deeply disappointed by this totally unjustified strike action, due to begin on July 20. We urge Unite and GMB to work with us to agree a way forward, rather than moving the goalposts on a previously recommended pay deal which met the Union’s aspirations for their members."
Responding, a Unite spokesperson said: " Arriva should be concentrating its energies on resolving the dispute rather than attacking the genuine concerns of bus drivers. It is untrue to state Unite has recommended a pay offer. What is a fact is that Arriva has failed to make an offer which comes anywhere close to meeting members' expectations."
Wednesday is the same day that Stagecoach workers in Merseyside are set to hold an all-out strike. Unite says Stagecoach failed to make an improved pay offer after 370 workers, who are based at the company’s Gilmoss depot, held an initial day of industrial action on Monday, July 4.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: " Stagecoach is a wealthy company – it can easily afford to pay fairly and Unite is determined to ensure that it does. Our members simply want the rate for the job and are not going to accept being underpaid a moment longer.
"Stagecoach’s refusal to make an offer that would resolve this dispute has, however, resulted in an escalation in industrial action. Unite will be giving our members the union’s complete support until they receive an acceptable pay increase."
On the Arriva dispute, Unite says its members are striking over a 'pitiful' pay offer from the German-owned transport giant of just 3% with no strings attached, or 6% which included reductions in sick pay and loss of Saturday enhanced pay. The union has pointed out that both the offers are far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 11.7% and so constitute a real terms pay cut.
The depots involved in the dispute are: Birkenhead, Bolton, Bootle, Liverpool, Macclesfield, Manchester, Runcorn, Southport, Speke, St Helens, and Winsford. Pay rates for bus drivers differ between the various depots but the union cited that drivers at Winsford, for example, are paid just £11.08 an hour. The GMB union is also involved in the industrial dispute.
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “The forthcoming strike action is set to cause widespread disruption to bus services throughout the North West. However, this dispute is all about greed not need. Arriva could make its workers a decent offer but it chose not to. Even now strikes can be avoided if Arriva made an offer which meets members’ expectations and returns to the negotiating table.”
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