North West Arriva bus workers walk out on strike over pay dispute
More than 1,800 Arriva bus workers walked out of depots in Manchester and Merseyside today (July 20) in protest over pay negotiations.
After three months of talks, pay offers from Arriva have not met inflation rates, trade union GMB says.
It says some pay offers have been ‘self-funded’ – meaning workers would have to sacrifice other terms to pay for them.
And none has met RPI inflation rates – in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis for a generation, the GMB added.
The union revealed that 96% of its members voted for strike action over the company’s offers.
Robbie Marnell, GMB regional organiser, said: “No worker should be struggling to cover their bills. But in the face of a cost of living crisis, Arriva needs to get real on its pay offers.
“Members have had enough after going the extra mile during COVID – working through the dangers of the pandemic – and now getting scant reward.”
He added: “The overwhelming strike mandate shows workers’ take on the miserly offer clearly. We have our deckchairs ready for the pickets.
“Hopefully the company will listen and get back around the table with a fair offer.”
Earlier this week, trade union Unite called off planned industrial action among its drivers and engineers after winning a “substantial” pay increase to end the dispute with Stagecoach Merseyside at itts Gilmoss depot.
About 370 union members had already taken a day’s strike action on July 4, and were scheduled to begin all out strike action from today (July 20), but this was cancelled after staff accepted a revised pay offer.
