Fresh wave of strikes to hit transport and other services across UK
A fresh wave of industrial action across British transport and services starts this weekend as bus workers in Merseyside went on strike, while other action is due on the rail network and threatened at airports and at post offices.
The strike by Stagecoach drivers and other bus workers from Monday comes as Arriva bus drivers in West Yorkshire agreed to suspend strikes after a month of action, and while talks continued to head off more national rail strikes.
About 370 Unite members at Stagecoach in Merseyside are due to strike for eight days in July, while a ballot of a further 1,800 Arriva bus staff across north-west England closes on Monday, in parallel disputes over pay.
Unite warned that there would be severe disruption but said there was “deep-seated anger” among its members over low pay. Its general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Stagecoach makes money hand over fist. Our members are making it abundantly clear that they will not accept being underpaid by this wealthy company any longer.”
Stagecoach said it had made an offer that would have made its drivers, who are striking on 4, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28 and 29 July, the highest paid in Merseyside.
Of the ballot of Arriva drivers in the north-west, Graham said the operator had failed to make a “realistic offer”, with RPI inflation now running at 11.1%.
The company has now made an improved pay offer in West Yorkshire, where services will resume on Saturday after a four-week strike that stopped buses on most routes in the region.
Meanwhile, train drivers for Great Anglia will stage a second 24-hour strike on Saturday, halting more than 90% of services on the network. Only limited trains from Norwich, Colchester and Stansted airport to London Liverpool Street will run.
Members
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