Arriva bus drivers in North Wales vote 77% in favour of strike action

Arriva bus drivers in North Wales will strike if an issue over pay is not resolved. The drivers took part in a secret ballot last week, the result of which was that 77% of the drivers were in favour of staging strike action.

If the strike goes ahead hundreds of services across the North Wales region will be affected. The action will also have a knock-on effect on bus routes in the Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire area. Services in the Chester, Wrexham, Rhyl, Llandudno, Bangor, Pwllheli, Dolgellau, and Aberystwyth area will be worst hit.

The unite Union and Arriva bosses are currently in talks, with the help of the conciliation services Acas, to try and resolve the issue without strike action being taken.

A Unite spokesperson confirmed that the drivers are dissatisfied with a pay offer they have received from bus company Arriva. It’s been reported that the pay deal is considerably lower than the offer presented to bus drivers in the Merseyside and Wirral area.

Michael Morton, managing director of Arriva Buses Wales has assured passengers that the bus services will still run as advertised should the walk-out go ahead, although they are working hard behind the scenes to prevent the strike action being taken.