Nationwide bus strikes threatened over pay and conditions
Bus drivers threaten a number of nationwide strikes in disputes on wages and conditions.
Approximately 7,500 members of the Union, Birkenhead, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chorley, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Preston, Stoke and Swindon are striking or voting to engage in industrial action.
Strikes containing 2,000 London United workers in Western London, 550 first workers in Bristol, 450 Cardiff bus employees and 70 GO South West workers in Swindon were announced with more strikes including thousands of bus workers planned in other towns and cities.
United Secretary General Sharon Graham said that bus employers should “have high and clarify the message everywhere: the driver’s payment does not reflect the stress and strains of the work”.
“Fatigue, lack of toilet, abuse and even attacks are a daily event,” he said.
“Unite will fight with teeth and nails for bus employees until the wages and conditions in the sector are recovered.”
Unite has previously reported that bus drivers have faced abuse in the workplace, and the workers reported that the number of incidents increased.
The union also campaigns for improvements for rest breaks, toilet facilities and shift molds to reduce fatigue.
According to the union, bus drivers are more likely to experience more mental and physical patient health than other professions due to the stressful nature of the work.
Unite, Cardiff and Newcastle strikes, including 600 bus workers, said the ballot will continue if the ballot is rejected.
Unite has experienced 167 bus disputes with 42,626 workers since 2023.
