Liverpool bus strikes to go ahead after 'inadequate' pay offer

Nearly 500 bus drivers across Merseyside are to strike for two days in June after they rejected a pay offer from Stagecoach.

The workers 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’. However, the industrial action was cancelled while union members were balloted over a ‘new and improved’ offer.

Unite have now confirmed that the strikes will now go ahead on June 24 and 25, after the new offer ‘failed to meet members’ expectations. Referring to the offer as ‘inadequate’, the union say the walk-outs are ‘likely to cause significant disruption in Liverpool’ and affect Pink’s concerts at Anfield stadium.

Discussing the decision, Unite regional officer Brian Troake said: "Stagecoach is a major player in Merseyside buses and it must reflect that in how it pays its drivers, without whom they wouldn't have a bus service. Our members are unhappy with the current pay offer and will not hesitate to take further strike action if Stagecoach doesn’t make an improved offer. Stagecoach is set to cause real issues for the Liverpool public if it continues to under-value and under-pay its own staff." 

In response, a spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “Stagecoach is disappointed that its improved pay offer has been rejected at ballot despite carrying the full Recommendation of Unite. Although more than half of those voting rejected the pay offer, the number rejecting the offer amounted to less than half of the Gillmoss Driver, Engineering and Cleaning workforce.”

Liverpool bus services after by Stagecoach June strikes

On June 24 and 24, Stagecoach will operate a limited service from Gillmoss depot. Stagecoach services 10A, 14, 53, 82, 86 in Liverpool will not operate and a special timetable will operate on routes 17, 19, 20 and 21 between 6.30am and 7.30pm.

Stagecoach’s other bus depots in the area will be unaffected by industrial action and services 1/X1, X2 and 471/472 will operate into Liverpool as normal. Stagecoach will also operate the 917 shuttle services for those attending the Pink concerts on both dates, to meet requests from the Liverpool City Region and Merseyside Police.