First Cymru confirms bus strikes will go ahead after pay offer rejected
Company “disappointed” as talks fail
Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Bus in Cymru, said the company was “disappointed for our customers” that its “above inflation pay offer” had been rejected.
He added:
“Throughout this extensive negotiation process, we have listened to Unite the Union member feedback and made a number of offers in order to try and settle this dispute, to ensure customers who rely on our services are not affected by strike action.
Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite the Union has decided to press ahead with strikes, affecting our customers. Our door remains open to negotiation.”
The company said it will shortly publish details on its website about which services will be affected.
Strike dates confirmed
Unite the Union has confirmed that strike action will take place on the following dates (inclusive):
The union has previously warned that strike action would “shut down” the bus network across South and West Wales.
Background
The dispute has been ongoing for several weeks. Earlier this month, strike action was postponed after a new pay offer was tabled by First Cymru full story here.
Unite has consistently argued that drivers deserve a fairer deal, warning that without improved pay, services and communities would continue to suffer. The union has also said that First Cymru’s drivers are among the lowest paid in the UK bus industry.
Previous coverage:
What happens next
With strike dates now confirmed, passengers across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire face significant disruption.
First Cymru says its “door remains open” to Unite for further talks, but unless an agreement is reached, services will be severely reduced or cancelled during the strike periods.
#busStrike #FirstBus #FirstCymru #industrialAction #payDispute #TradeUnion #Unite #UniteTheUnion #UniteUnion
First Cymru bus strikes postponed after new pay offer
First week of strikes called off
Industrial action was due to begin on Tuesday 22 October, with three waves of weekly strikes planned across south and west Wales.
However, Unite the Union confirmed that the first week of strikes (22–25 October) has now been called off to allow members to vote on the revised offer.
Strike dates scheduled for 30 October–2 November and 5–8 November remain in place and will go ahead if the offer is rejected.
Union statement
Unite regional coordinating officer Alan McCarthy said:
“Following our decision to take industrial action, First Cymru has come back with a new and amended pay offer for our members. As an act of goodwill we have called off planned strike action next week to allow a ballot to take place. If the offer is rejected by members then remaining strike action will continue as planned.”
Pay dispute continues
Drivers are seeking a pay rise to £15 per hour, which Unite says would bring them in line with colleagues at other Welsh bus companies.
The dispute has already caused concern for passengers across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, with services facing disruption if the later strike dates go ahead.
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First bus strike to cause major disruption across south and west Wales
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First Cymru announces major bus network overhaul
The operator unveiled sweeping changes to routes and timetables across south west Wales earlier this year.
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Transport for Wales set out plans for a new franchising model and simplified services as part of nationwide bus reform.
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