First Bus drivers to walk out in Scotland

Central Borders, SE Scotland

Bus services could come to a standstill on Monday unless First bosses can reach a pay deal with drivers. Borders drivers want a nine percent wage increase to bring them into line with other operators in First Bus’s east of Scotland division. But managers had been offering only 2.5 percent and the 100 or so drivers look set to strike on Monday, with further stoppages planned for Friday June 18 and Monday June 21. An overtime ban is also planned for Tuesday.

Yesterday union negotiators were taking a new, undisclosed offer to members but as The Southern went to press the industrial action was still due to go ahead. Unite regional industrial organiser, Sandy Smart said: “What we are looking for is parity with other parts of the company – but the company is arguing it is not prepared to give that. It has caused quite a bit of resentment and anger. “Drivers get paid 75p an hour less than the guy in the same uniform doing the same job up the road in Edinburgh.”
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk