1:40am Tuesday 9th December 2008
After the first day of emergency talks, bus drivers in Bradford still plan to strike the week before Christmas in a pay dispute.
Union and management of First Bradford today remained locked in negotiations which both sides hope will mean the strike can be called off.
Drivers who work for the company, which runs the majority of the district’s bus routes, voted in favour of strike action last week if their wages were not raised in line with inflation.
An offer of a 3.6 per cent pay rise was rejected by union officials, who said that it effectively represented a pay cut as it was not in line with the current rate of inflation which stands at 4.5 per cent.
The drivers’ union Unite said the bus drivers were expecting to receive a pay rise more than six months ago.
Crisis talks began yesterday and were expected to continue today to avert the strike, which if carried out would affect more than 500 bus services in one of the busiest weeks of the year.
A Unite spokesman said last night: “There was a good reaction to our demands, but essentially there have been no new offers on the table so the three- day strike is still planned.
“We will sit down and have more meetings tomorrow. Our aim was always not to strike if we can come to a resolution we would prefer not to.
“This meeting was called by First Bus and there was a good atmosphere – we are feeling positive.
“They are willing to listen to us and recognise the position of the union.”
A First Bradford spokesman said last night: “Today’s talks with Unite were very encouraging and First will continue to have discussions with the union to bring this matter to a mutually agreeable conclusion.”
The strike is planned for Wednesday, December 17, to Friday, December 19. Further action will be taken if January if the dispute is not resolved.
In the Telegraph & Argus on Saturday it was reported that the Bradford Free City Bus would not be affected. It has now been suggested that as the bus is driven by First staff, it would be affected by a strike.
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