Strike action by cleaners and fuellers could force buses in Lanarkshire off the road warns a leading union.
Unite the union has confirmed that Bidvest Noonan workers contracted to clean and refuel buses for First Bus in Glasgow and Aberdeen are set to strike in a dispute over pay.
Depots to be impacted by strike action next week include Wishaw and Blantyre.
Over 100 cleaners, fuellers and shunters contracted to work in First Glasgow and First Aberdeen bus depots are striking after previously rejecting a two per cent pay offer backdated to 2022.
Wages at the company start at £9.62 per hour, far below the £10.42 per hour that will be the national minimum wage from April.
Unite say Bidvest Noonan made a profit of £9.5m for the year ending June 2022, up from £5.96m in year ending June 2021.
According to Unite, with cleaning, refuelling and re-charging of the electric buses not carried out on the days of industrial action, buses across the Glasgow area may have to be taken off the roads for safety and re-charging reasons.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Bidvest Noonan’s pay offer is totally unacceptable. This company is making millions and can well afford to pay fairly. It has no excuse for not doing so.
“Quite simply, these buses couldn’t operate without our members who have Unite’s full support as they stand up for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The strike action will take place from 3pm on Wednesday, March 1, concluding at 6am on Saturday, March 4.
The contract workers were outsourced by First Bus in Glasgow in 2016.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer said: “The strike action by Unite members working for Bidvest Noonan will lead to First Bus having to take buses off the roads.
“The two per cent offer backdated to last year is totally unacceptable to our members.
"This dispute is a problem of First Bus’s own making because they outsourced these workers years ago. Unite is demanding that they be brought back in-house and paid fairly.”
A First Bus Scotland spokesperson said: "We understand Bidvest Noonan workers have been balloted in relation to strike action.
“First Bus is assisting Bidvest Noonan to find an agreement that is mutually beneficial to all.”
Bidvest Noonan were contacted for comment.
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