Bus strike suspended as workers consider new offer

The long-running bus strike affecting Arriva in West Yorkshire has been suspended to allow members of the union Unite to be balloted on a new pay offer.

The 650 bus workers involved in the dispute will return to work on Saturday 2 July.

The strike was nearing the end of its fourth week, when Arriva made an improved offer to Unite.

Unite has agreed to suspend the strike action to allow its members to be balloted on the offer.

Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “Arriva has come forward with an offer which our members will now be balloted on. While the ballot is being undertaken and as an act of goodwill Unite has suspended its strike action.”

He added that if the offer is rejected by the members then the strike will resume.

Unite first confirmed early this month – June – that its Arriva bus driver members in Yorkshire would take indefinite strike action over the pay offer dispute.

The industrial action began on 6 June, with the union arguing an offer of a 4.1% pay increase to its 650 members was “pitiful” and well below the current inflation rate.

Arriva UK Bus responded that the strike was “unjustified”, adding it had put forward an improved pay offer only for the union to move the goal posts and demand further pay rises.

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