Arriva buses remain out of operation across Merseyside as the drivers strike continues.
On August 1, Arriva met with officials from Unite and GMB - the unions representing workers in this dispute - for talks, but once again no agreement was reached as those talks broke down. This week marks the third week of continuous strikes.
Last week the ECHO headed down to the Arriva picket line in St Helens to speak with drivers for their views and reasons for striking.
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A mum-of-four taking part in the strike said: “We’re having to live within our means, I’ve got four kids and I’m struggling to take home a wage to support them. It will end up with drivers relying on food banks if something doesn’t happen."
Hundreds of ECHO readers shared their thoughts on the strike in the comments, with a mix of support and anger. David Morrison said: "People are fighting for fair pay, as is their right. Times are tough and you can’t just expect everyone to knuckle under and struggle, when they can fight for a better standard of living."
Mark Madden added: "When you see the profits all the big bosses are making. They’re right to strike. People are struggling to get by. It may cause some disruption but I guarantee nobody wants to be on strike. Good luck everyone and stay patient."
Steve Shanley said: "It's not just about the pay, it's about the changes to working conditions, the fact that Arriva are trying to enforce new contracts on the drivers. They want the drivers to have no rights, to have holiday entitlement changed, to have redundancy conditions changed.
"The more companies and businesses get away with treating their staff like rubbish, the more they'll get away with it."
Not all agree with the strike however, with many viewing the action as unfair and punishing ordinary people rather than those in power. Brenda Morris said: "Try living on a carers wage you earn more than. We do and everyone is struggling no one is on your side we all need a wage rise go back to work and stop being so selfish."
While Rachel Monaghan said: "And so is everyone else who is out of work, unable to get to get there because of the strike. Although the union is paying them at least something while on strike, the rest of us receive nothing.
"I’m not against the strike, but this is ridiculous when people were merely scraping by before this. It needs to end. Arriva need to sort this out now."
Some believe the current economic climate is not the right time for a strike, with much of the country struggling - not just drivers. Angela Wright said: "In normal times I’d support strike action, however this is not normal times, we’re in a post pandemic recession, and there’s a war going on that is also affecting the country financially. All workers are currently in the same boat, there’s a time and a place, and this isn’t it."
Arriva said it was "extremely disappointed" that despite further negotiations with the unions and what it called a "very generous improved offer", the unions "walked away without even agreeing to put our offer to their members".
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