The bus stops here

Over 800 Unite bus drivers at five Arriva depots in West and North Yorkshire were today on strike (November 14). The 24-hour walk out was aimed – in a period of rising prices – at boosting pay and, with passenger safety in mind, reducing the maximum time a driver can spend at the wheel on each single occasion s/he is driving.

In attempt to amicably resolve their differences, Unite reps have, since November 2015, engaged in 16 rounds of negotiations with management. Frustrated at the lack of progress resulted in today’s stoppage, the first at Arriva this century and only the third since the 1970s.

There were many pickets at all five depots in Castleford, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Wakefield and Selby. Each picket was peaceful, noisy and colourful with Unite flags and placards stating ‘Fair Rate of Pay’ and ‘Cut Driving Time’ displayed proudly. Many drivers in passing cars honked their horns in support.

‘Try and improve things’

At Wakefield, Anita Metcalf, an Arriva driver for 14 years, said, “I think we deserve better pay and conditions. We have had to take strike action to try and improve things.” Arriva bus drivers are currently paid £8.57 an hour during their first year, rising to £9.66 for the following two years before increasing to a maximum of £10.87 in the fourth. The company has offered during negotiations an additional 17 pence an hour for this year and an extra 20 pence, payable in two instalments of 10 pence, in 2017.

Unite members are seeking an extra 20 pence an hour each January. If this was agreed this would mean those on the highest rate would be earning ÂŁ11.27 an hour from January next year.
Drivers also want to agree a reduction in working time that would mean a maximum single driving stretch of 305 minutes, 25 minutes less than is the case at present. Nigel Atkinson, an Arriva bus driver in Castleford for 21 years, chairs Unite’s central negotiating committee with Arriva in Yorkshire. “Arriva made £6m profit last year.

“Bus driving is stressful. There is lots of traffic, you have to manage the passengers, issue the tickets and collect cash. Decent pay is essential and a driver working 330 minutes without a break can become exhausted and liable to make mistakes that can threaten their own safety and the passengers.

“The company would appear to accept that there is a need to cut the time as in their own national standards operating manual they recommend a maximum driving time of 310 minutes. Yet they won’t agree with us to make any cut. “Long term we want the maximum driving time for bus drivers equal to truck drivers – which is 270 minutes. Cutting the time drivers must sit at a single time will improve their mental and physical health such that it will reduce early deaths amongst male drivers from prostate cancer.”

Studies in America amongst truck drivers have shown that that they have nearly four times the normal risk of being diagnosed with an aggressive case of the disease. There has been a number of West Yorkshire bus drivers who have died from prostate cancer in recent years.

Having seen so many of the members he represents take strike action today, Phil Bown, the Unite regional officer for passenger transport, now hopes that, “Arriva will negotiate with us and agree an acceptable deal with its employees.”