Liverpool bus strikes cancelled after 'new and improved' offer

Strikes by Stagecoach bus drivers in Liverpool have been called off after ‘a new and improved offer from the employer’, Unite the union have announced today.

Nearly 500 drivers had been due to walk on June 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, over what Unite said was a ‘huge disparity between their pay and that of Arriva Liverpool drivers’. A number of local bus services were set to be cancelled or disrupted, impacting day-to-day travel and potentially those heading to Anfield to see Taylor Swift this week.

The strikes have now been called off while union members are balloted on the new offer. Discussing the news, Unite regional officer Brian Troake said:"The threat of industrial action has made Stagecoach see sense and come back to the table with a new and improved offer for our members that recognises their hard work and current low pay. We have decided, as a goodwill gesture, to cancel the planned strikes later this month to allow the ballot to take place."

Matt Davies, Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire said: "I'm pleased that we have worked with Unite to reach a pay offer that Unite can recommend to their members and which they will now put to our workforce. As a result, the industrial action scheduled to start on Thursday for five days has been cancelled.”

If members don't accept the offer, industrial action has been re-scheduled to take place on June 24 and 25.