Victorious Arriva bus drivers have thanked the people of Merseyside for keeping them going during their 29-day strike that ended in an historic pay settlement.
On Friday, Arriva drivers formally voted to accept an 11.1% pay increas e after an agreement was reached between the bus company and the GMB and Unite unions on Wednesday. The deal meant that on Thursday there were Arriva buses running on Merseyside roads for the first time since July 20.
It was a gruelling fight for the drivers, who rejected smaller offers in their pursuit of a fair deal against a backdrop of soaring living costs. Now a group of the drivers have spoken of their hard-fought win and thanked the people of Merseyside for continued support during a difficult period for many.
READ MORE: Union heralds 'magnificent' deal for Arriva drivers as strikes end
Writing for the ECHO, the drivers said: "Thursday August 18 marked the first day back after buses were parked up on Tuesday 19th July. Little did we know then that this dispute would be drawn out for such a long time. Indeed, a small number of union members privately shared some worries that the unions would ‘sell out and settle’.
"Some thought that the public support would waiver. Some thought that the longer the dispute went on, the more people would give second-thoughts to coming into work. And some even thought that the 9.6% offer that was voted on earlier in the week would be a close-run thing. All of them were wrong."
"We knew that the travelling public would find it incredibly difficult the longer the dispute went on. There are areas across the region that are served only by Arriva buses and are cut adrift of any sort of access to trains. There was also the issue of minimum wage workers being most impacted by the strike. Yet, as we pointed out to those who interacted with us on the picket line, minimum wage workers are affected by rising costs all year round – not just during the summer of 2022 when Arriva buses stopped running.
"These conversations were imperative because it allowed working people to see for themselves that they are the ‘victim’ of the same things that we are: profit hungry companies who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. There were many heart-warming stories during the strike. Donations of money, food, drink, cigarettes were well-received and the chats on the picket line and the beeping cars kept us going."
The drivers added: "Liverpool, after all, understands solidarity and struggle better than the most. Even today as buses rolled out for the first time since the dispute, passengers shook our hands, applauded us for taking a stand and even cars that passed us on the road were beeping in admiration."
Speaking about the now accepted offer of 11.1%, the drivers said this is not just a victory for them, but a point of reference to others who are currently involved in pay disputes, including rail and postal workers.
They added: "The lasting legacy of this strike is the solidarity we have built amongst our colleagues and with the wider community. Nobody – neither a bus driver or a care worker – should be struggling by and having to experience the gruelling bureaucracy of seeking help and support through Universal Credit whilst working full time, or worse, using a food bank.
"We have helped and advised many passers-by with the formalities of seeking union recognition in the workplace over the past month and encouraged those who are experiencing issues within their union to make a stand and be that change. Currently, the only way to cushion the blow from rapid inflation and sky-high bills is through the wage packet.
"This dispute has shown that collectively our voices are louder and our strength is indestructible and we the striking workers would like to thank the travelling public and our loyal supporters for making us heard and making us stronger."
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