“Severe disruption” for Leeds buses as indefinite strike action is called

AN escalating pay battle has triggered indefinite strike action by First Leeds bus workers.

Following a major row between union Unite and First Leeds bus operator and three strikes, Unite has announced that 1,000 bus workers in Leeds will strike continuously from next Tuesday (26 July).

The union said that management at First Leeds had taken an “extremely aggressive stance” in the row over pay, in which First Leeds workers claim they earn £2.00 less than their counterparts in the rest of the region.

The row escalated yesterday following one-day strikes over the past month . The union had planned another on 11 July, but suspended it after discussions were planned. Unite called a proposed 38p wage increase, frozen until 2018, “insulting.”

However yesterday Unite claimed that the its branch secretary and two other workers were dismissed and a further 11 workers given final written warnings for their participation in the strike action.

A statement from First Leeds which warned of “severe disruption” from Tuesday, said: “I can confirm we have undertaken disciplinary action in relation to a number of very serious allegations that were of a nature that required us to bring them to the attention of the police. We are not in a position to comment on any individual cases but I can confirm that no members of staff have been disciplined for taking part in industrial action.”

It said it was “bitterly disappointed” and managing director of First Leeds, Paul Matthews, rejected the claims that other regional workers are paid less than their Leeds-based counterparts. He said that a meeting had been arranged before Tuesday and claimed that Unite had not let workers vote on their “above inflation” offers.

Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “We suspended the strike we were going to hold on 11 July as a goodwill gesture, as the management had indicated it wished to talk.

“However, we waited and waited and nothing happened. It was only after we announced that we would be holding an all-out strike from next Tuesday that the company suggested talks on Monday.

“However, on the bosses’ past record, this could be another delaying tactic.

“The atmosphere has badly deteriorated as the management has started to attack our members for carrying out legitimate trade union activity. So far, three people, including the Unite branch secretary, have been dismissed and 11 others have been given final written warnings.

“We are calling for the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed colleagues and the rescinding of the final written warnings, otherwise these cases will end up before an employment tribunal.

“The management needs to stop ducking and diving and commit to holding genuine and meaningful talks, otherwise this strike could go on for some time with an adverse impact for bus users in Leeds – something we have desperately sought to avoid.”

Aberdeen-based First Group made pre-tax profits of £113.5m in the year to March 2016.