7:22am Saturday 6th December 2008
By Tanya O'Rourke
Drivers at Bradford’s biggest bus operator are set to hold a three-day strike a week before Christmas in a bitter pay battle.
The First drivers, who operate the majority of the district’s routes, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of striking if their wages are not raised in line with inflation.
More than 500 bus services across the district will be affected if emergency talks to try to resolve the dispute on Monday fail. An offer of a 3.6 per cent pay rise was rejected and branded “poverty pay” by officials at the drivers’ union Unite as it is not in line with the inflation rate of 4.5 per cent.
The drivers are pressing for a rise which would bring the highest paid drivers’ wages from £9.50 to £10 – a rate which Unite says is already enjoyed by First drivers in Leeds and Halifax.
In response First said it believed its pay offer was “fair” in the economic climate and called for continued negotiations to avoid a strike.
The union says the bus drivers were expecting to receive a pay rise more than six months ago and have been negotiating with First ever since.
Monday’s crisis talks will involve First management and union representatives. Unite official Steve Clark said: “Strike action is not something the bus drivers want, but they feel they have no other option due to the poverty pay offer from First Bradford.
“Our members have been more than patient with First Group. We have been in negotiations since February and drivers were due their pay rise back in May.
A First spokesman said: “We are disappointed that some of our drivers have taken the decision to consider industrial action. Despite the economic climate we have offered close to a 3.7 per cent rise to our drivers.
“As we approach Christmas people rely even more on our services and strike action will affect our passengers and also our drivers’ own income.”
Bradford Councillor Chris Greaves, who is chairman of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority, said: “Obviously this is a mater between First and the union but at Metro we regret any inconvenience to passengers.
“There are still a few days to go and we hope they will keep talking and come to some decision.
“It will affect Christmas shoppers, workers, everybody else so we hope it doesn’t go ahead.”
Bradford bus services not run by First, which include the Bradford Free City Bus, Arriva and Keighley and District Travel will not be affected.
The strike is planned for Wednesday, December 17, to Friday, December 19. If the matter is not resolved, further strike action is planned for January 7 to 9 and January 21 to 23.
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