‘Pitiful pay’

Over 2,000 bus drivers and engineering staff working for Arriva North West across 11 depots are set to stage a series of one day stoppages starting Thursday, October 19, in a dispute over below inflation pay and wage inequality between bus garages.

The members of Britain’s largest union, Unite are also set to walkout for 24 hours on Monday October 23 and Monday October 30 hitting bus services operating out of Arriva bus depots in: Birkenhead, Bolton, Bootle, Green Lane (Stoneycroft), Macclesfield, Runcorn, St. Helens, Speke, Southport, Winsford and Wythenshawe.

The announcement comes after crisis talks over pay for 2017/18 between Unite and Arriva North West broke down yesterday (October 12).

Unite is calling for a fair and equitable pay award across all depots and for the company to take steps to address wage inequality between depots which currently can be as much as £1.73 an hour. Under Arriva’s latest pay offer those disparities could rise to £2 an hour.

“Arriva is owned by the German transport giant Deutsche Bahn AG and has huge financial resources,” said Unite regional officer Neil Clarke. “All we are seeking is a fair and reasonable pay award against a backdrop of spiralling inflation and soaring living costs.

“Our members are fed up with pitiful pay offers and Arriva’s ‘pick and mix’ approach to wages where some depots get a pay rise and others don’t,” he added. “This has resulted in wage inequality across a number of depots and is in stark contrast to the company’s claim to be an industry leader in the treatment of its workforce.

“We urge Arriva to put its money where its mouth is and stop treating its loyal workforce so abysmally and that it starts investing in the people who generate the wealth within the business.”

Picket lines will be assembling outside of all Arriva North West depots on the strike days.