Drivers to stage second bus strike as bosses take hard line in pay dispute

ONE thousand bus drivers in Leeds are on strike again today after talks broke down last week due to “management intransigence”, the union Unite said.

The 24-hour walk out will see bus workers at the Bramley and Hunslet Park depots strike from 02.01 today, the second successive Monday, in a dispute over a “pitiful” pay offer.  

 
Talks between Unite and the management of First West Yorkshire, under the umbrella of the conciliation service, Acas, broke down after the management refused to improve its offer, the union said.

It also argues that First Bus drivers in Halifax earn nearly £2 an hour more than their Leeds’ counterparts.
 
Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “Regretfully, we are no further forward resolving the current dispute. The company tabled a new offer that was significantly less than its original offer last week – which rather defeats the object of negotiations.
 
“We went to the Acas meeting in good faith with a determination to find a way forward, not least for the bus commuters in Leeds, but after several hours of talks the company proposed a two-year deal that in real terms is worse than what the members went on strike over last Monday.
 
“This pitiful offer contrasts with the fact that First Bus has announced a UK-wide annual bus profit in this week of about £52m, with a third of that profit coming from its Leeds operation.”

He added: “The bosses are now playing hard ball with the company saying it will not allow any member to do any overtime next week which will mean that it will have to withdraw some services after Monday which will cause more disruption to the travelling public in Leeds.
 
“Concern for the travelling public appears to the last thing on the management’s mind, and it is more concerned in attacking Unite than settling this dispute in a fair and equitable fashion.”

First Leeds said it is “disappointed” that Unite have called a further 24 hour strike.

It said the strike action is being held despite the company attempting to end the dispute by offering alternative ways to package an above-inflation pay deal.

“Further talks involving ACAS to try and resolve the dispute were held at First Leeds offices on Thursday June 16 with the company offering a range of alternative pay offers that again exceeded inflation and in most cases met the Union’s demands over time,” a statement said this morning.

Paul Matthews, managing director of First Leeds, said: “This is very disappointing news that will create massive inconvenience for our customers as well as hardship for our staff. We’ve again presented several ways that the union’s demand could be met to try to end this dispute. Our offers continue to be well above inflation, as the pay deals have been each year for the last four years. In response, Unite are now demanding even higher pay increases in their alternative proposals.

“I remain determined to bring this dispute to an end with a very fair and reasonable pay offer for our hard working drivers but not one that will damage the future of the business and bring fare rises for our customers.”

The pay dispute only affects First Leeds, and First bus services in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax are unaffected.