Planned industrial action now cancelled after company improves offer. Wider concerns over management practices to be challenged.
 
Planned strikes by over a thousand bus workers have been cancelled after workers voted to accept a new pay deal.
 
Brighton Bus Company, which runs services both in Brighton and in Crawley, put forward a new and improved offer after Unite members had voted for strike action that was due to take place on 6 and 13 October.
 
Workers will now receive an overall pay offer of 5.2 per cent.  Additionally, the Copthorne depot who were on a lower hourly rate and did not receive sick pay have accepted a 7 per cent pay rise including the backdated element with sick pay payable at 67 per cent of their rate of pay.
 
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
 
“I’m delighted our members have received a pay rise that is nothing more than they deserve. They were prepared to take to the picket line and stood firm in their demands until they got an offer that was acceptable. This shows, yet again, that Unite is the winning union.”
 
Brighton Bus Company and Crawley Metrobus is owned by the Go Ahead group, based in Newcastle, which itself is owned by overseas transport conglomerates Kinetic and Globalvia. Both firms are hugely profitable and have worldwide transport operations.
 
Unite regional officer Janet Nobbs said: 
 
"Our members do an incredibly stressful job, driving at all times of day and night, in all weathers throughout the year. They keep Brighton and Crawley's workers and students moving. This pay award is absolutely deserved in the face of a cost of living crisis and I’m really pleased to see our members win this dispute.
 
"But there remain significant issues with management practices at Brighton Bus Company that need addressing and Unite will be holding its feet to the fire in the coming weeks and months as we stand up for our members’ rights.”