Unite has cautiously welcomed today's Welsh Labour’s commitment to a £2 bus fare cap and the expansion of bus routes across Wales, recognising that affordable, reliable public transport is essential for workers, communities, and the Welsh economy.
The union has long argued that buses are a public service, not a profit-making exercise, and the commitment to bring services back under public control through the Bus Services Bill is a significant step in the right direction.
A fare cap, if properly funded, could help tackle transport poverty, support access to work and education, and reduce car dependency.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Public transport should be just that. Owned by the public and run for the public. And this should extend to fares that allow workers, students and families to go about their business for a fair fare. Today's announcement by the Welsh Labour is a step in the right direction."
 
Unite also welcomes the news in December confirming the passing of  the Bus Services (Wales) Bill, which will see bus services come back under public control.
Lead officer for public transport in Wales, Alan McCarthy said: “It will surprise nobody that deregulation has failed to deliver for communities in Wales. Unite has long campaigned for bus services to return to public control, the bill is a significant step forward in ensuring that services work in favour of passengers and communities rather than shareholders and profiteers. 
 
"The next step is to ensure that workers’ pay and conditions are not just preserved but enhanced as a result of this. Deregulation created an environment where profits were maximised by suppressing pay. Bus workers pay and conditions in Wales are among the worst in the UK. Unite will not allow workers to pay for franchising.”
 
Ends