Labour Research February 2014

News

First Bus

Bus drivers working for FirstGroup in Weymouth and Bridport in Dorset took strike action over pay last month.

The 60 drivers, members of general union Unite, have rejected a 1.5% pay offer.

The Weymouth and Bridport drivers are currently paid just £8.30 an hour and want £9.00 an hour without any strings attached. Unite regional officer Bob Lanning pointed out that “30 miles away in Bournemouth, Yellow Buses drivers are receiving more than £10 an hour”.

The 1.5% offer came with strings in the form of cuts in sick pay among other things, with management also trying to move the settlement date.

www.unitetheunion.org/news/weymouth-bus-drivers-in-talks-over-pay-dispute