500 Stagecoach workers in industrial action vote over pay

Birkenhead, Chorley and Preston are facing bus chaos as 500 drivers ballot for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

The workers are demanding a pay rise that reflects huge disparities between their pay and drivers in the same areas.

For example, Arriva drivers in Birkenhead earn £2.69 an hour more than Birkenhead Stagecoach drivers and £2.13 an hour more than Stagecoach drivers in Chorley and Preston.

Stagecoach is a highly profitable firm, with figures from last year showing it recorded a total operating profit of £51.1m - up from £33.1m - and a profit before taxation of £47.6m.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Stagecoach can well afford to put forward an offer that tackles the unfair pay disparities that exist not only between different companies but different garages at the same firm. Unite will be providing maximum support to our Stagecoach members at Birkenhead, Chorley and Preston.”

The workers are being balloted for strike until 28 August. If the ballot is successful, industrial action will be scheduled soon after.

Unite regional officer Mike Woods said: “There is still time to avoid strike action but that requires Stagecoach to put forward an offer our members can accept.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065. 

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.