Strike action by bus drivers in the region has been suspended after management came forward with a new pay offer.
Four hundred members of the Unite union who work for First West of England’s Badgerline out of the depots at Bath, Bristol Marlborough Street, Wells and Weston-super-Mare were due to walk out for five days from today, 4th September, after previously rejecting an “unsatisfactory” pay offer from First Bus.
However, the first wave of strikes from 4th September to 8th September has been halted so that Unite members can be balloted on the new pay offer over the coming days.
Unite regional officer Ken Fish said: “Following an improved offer from the employer, Unite has suspended industrial action due to take place later this week so workers can be balloted on this.”
A separate strike due to take place on the same dates by 600 drivers working for First West of England’s City Line at Bristol’s Lawrence Hill and Hengrove bus depots has also been suspended to allow workers to vote on a new pay offer.
Doug Claringbold, managing director for First Bus in the West of England, told the Bath Echo: “We are pleased that the union has decided to suspend its planned strikes between September 4th and 8th in the West of England while its members consider our new pay offer.
“We have always committed to working with Unite to try and settle this dispute to avoid unnecessary disruption to customers.
“We hope for a favourable outcome so we’re able to keep our buses on the road and continue serving our customers.”
