First bus drivers in Leeds strike over pay
The first of two planed strikes has taken place over the weekend in Leeds after bus drivers rejected a second pay off from their employer, First. The second part of the planned industrial action is scheduled to take place on December 19th if an agreement is not reached before.
A strike had been planned initially after First announced a pay freeze. However the company then offered a pay increase last Tuesday, which was rejected. This offer was then revised and featured a 2.5% wage increase from April next year, plus a £150 bonus for all drivers before Christmas, and a reduction in working hours without any loss of pay. This was also dismissed on Friday when drivers voted 2 to 1 in favour of rejecting the deal.
Lengthy discussion had been held between First and the union Unite in an attempt to prevent strike action. The union had recommended that its members accept the revised deal, but despite this, the industrial action went ahead.
Phil Bown from Unite said he didn’t believe the drivers were being “unrealistic” in their requests, although he conceded that the offered made by First had been attractive since it was “putting something on the table in terms of cash before Christmas”, however this didn’t make up for the fact that there was “no percentage pay rise for this year.”
The Managing Director from First West Yorkshire defended their pay proposal saying, “We made a very attractive offer in the current economic climate.”
First are suffering as the drivers can see the 130 million pound profit and dividends being paid to shareholders and feel the success that they have created should be recognised. Bus drivers all over Britain feel little worth as their work is heavily scrutinised by the bosses using CCTV to spy on the workforce. Paytalks are the only time drivers can strike back and there are now a huge number nationwide who will vote No whatever is offered.
A more sensible approach is needed from both sides as ultimately as managers and workers play their silly games, the customer / public suffer…
How can first say that the reduction in hours is without loss of pay when First are taking back 12 minutes a day.
Also the £150 is less than the previous offer when tax and NI are taken off, it is also this years pay rise !!!!
In other words they are having to pay for their own payrise themselves and as First Leeds are the only ones making money up north it is stupid not giving them anything.