A UNION has warned that there could be “major disruption” to bus services, as more than 1,000 drivers are balloted for possible strike action in a pay dispute.
Unite says the First West of England drivers have rejected an “unsatisfactory” two-year deal offering them an extra £1 an hour from now until March next year, then a 30p hourly increase from next April.
The union says new starters will be offered a smaller increase – 50p an hour extra until March and a further 10p per hour from next April.
First says the pay offer is “above-inflation” and urged Unite to continue “constructive negotiations”.
The union said: “Drivers will also lose out financially as, despite the pay anniversary date being April, First West of England has not committed to giving back pay for the past four months of the wage increase.”
The dispute involves staff at six depots in the region, including Bristol Bus Station and Lawrence Hill, where most drivers on East Bristol and South Gloucestershire routes are based. The other depots being balloted are at Hengrove, Weston-Super-Mare, Bath and Wells.
The union says the bus operator’s parent company First Group made an operating profit of £204.3 million last year, and increased share dividends 45%.
It says if the ballots, held during August, approve industrial action it is “likely to be extremely disruptive with delays and cancellations of services expected”.
Unite regional officer Amy Roberts said: “We appreciate local residents may be concerned to hear of potential strike action, but First West of England has failed to put forward a meaningful pay offer to our members.
“Drivers at First West of England do a vital job for the general public and deserve to be paid fairly.
“We urge First West of England to come back to the table with a better offer to avoid any disruption.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said First was “prioritising greed and the needs of its shareholders over hard-working members who do a difficult job driving buses every day”.
First Bus West of England managing director Doug Claringbold said: “We’re disappointed that Unite has chosen to ballot some employees for industrial action while we continue to engage in constructive negotiations.
“Our above-inflation pay offer reflects the value we put on colleagues and demonstrates our commitment to protecting staff from the rising cost of living – even in the challenging financial environment we operate in.
“We remain open to having constructive discussions at any time and urge Unite to continue these talks, so we can reach a fair resolution for our colleagues and the customers across the area we serve.”