A bus operator will be unable to run any services in Mansfield and Worksop during four days of strike action. Stagecoach have cancelled their bus services in the two towns for July 26, August 2, August 9 and August 16 due to the RMT union's strike action.
Employees at the Mansfield and Worksop depots have been offered a two-year deal which would give them a 13.2% pay increase, with 9.7% uplift in the first 12 months. Further talks have taken place, and four separate updated pay offers have been put forward by Stagecoach East Midlands to the RMT.
Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, said: "We have done everything possible to try and avoid these needless strikes, which we know will cause untold disruption for our local communities. We remain open for further talks, however, with the RMT unwilling to even ballot its members over the new offers we have made, it’s difficult to see a way forward.
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“Even during these difficult times, we have offered a substantial pay increase which would give our people a rise of close to 10% within 12 months, with further rises the next year. They would also continue to benefit from good holiday entitlement, pension and other benefits.
He continued: “We have now put forward four separate pay offers to the RMT, and none of these have been put forward to a democratic vote by members. Instead the union is relying on the results of an outdated ballot to force through this strike action.
"We are absolutely committed to securing the best deal possible for our people, while also protecting the future sustainability of the bus network. We are now in the difficult position of having to advise passengers that we will not be able to run any services on 26 July, 2 August, 9 August and 16 August during the RMT action.
"We apologise for the inconvenience we know this action will cause to our passengers.” No Stagecoach East Midlands services will be running on the strike days in Mansfield or Worksop but other East Midlands services will not be affected.
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