Transport union RMT has slammed First South West today (Friday, November 11) for not settling a pay dispute with bus workers despite its parent company reporting a jump in profits. Concerns about pay and conditions prompted some staff to resort to strikes in Somerset and Cornwall last month and this month.
First Group has published its half-year results for the six months to September 2022, which shows that operating profits from its continuing operations have increased to £66 million compared to £52 million for the first half of last year. The company's press release commended the "resilient financial performance delivered despite the challenging political, economic and industrial relations environment".
But according to RMT, First South West workers in Somerset and Cornwall are angry that many of them are only paid just over £11 an hour and that bosses only offered a small uprate to £12 an hour. On top of the profits First Group has made, First South West itself owns Somerset Passenger Solutions. For the year ending March 2021, RMT says First South West received a dividend income of £2.1 million from SPS.
