4 Mar 2011

Huddersfield strike postponed after new pay offer

Drivers are to vote on a new pay offer – after threatening to strike in Huddersfield on Monday. The First drivers will vote on an improved offer after a bitter 11-month pay dispute.
The latest offer was made after talks yesterday between Unite union officials and First managers. Now the union will put the offer to the 188 drivers who work out of Huddersfield bus station.
The ballot will take place next week and that means the planned 24-hour walkout which could have taken place on Monday has been cancelled. Drivers had voted 129-16 in favour of eight one-day strikes in a postal ballot.
The dispute centres on a pay award which was due in May 2010. The union said the original management offer was with conditions which would effectively mean extra driving time on top of the 37-hour week currently met by the drivers. But yesterday a revised offer was made although details have not been revealed. The drivers currently earn between £7.48 and £10,25 per hour.

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