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Motor vehicle drivers

Bus Drivers in Merseyside Ballot for Strike Action over Pay Disparities

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Bus drivers in Birkenhead, Preston, and Chorley are being balloted for strike action due to pay disparities between drivers of the same company but different garages. According to trade union Unite, 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. The workers are demanding a pay rise that reflects these disparities.

Key Takeaways:

  • 500 bus drivers in the North West are being balloted for strike action over pay disparities, with workers in Birkenhead, Preston, and Chorley demanding a pay rise.
  • Unite claimed that 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.
  • The workers are being balloted for strike until August 28, and if the ballot is successful, industrial action will be scheduled soon after.
  • Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has pledged maximum support to Stagecoach members at Birkenhead, Chorley, and Preston, urging Stagecoach to put forward an offer that tackles pay disparities.
  • Stagecoach drivers are among several bus operators in the Liverpool City Region, including Peoples' Bus, Arriva, HTL Buses, and Cumfy Bus.

Statistics:

  • 500 bus drivers in the North West are being balloted for strike action.
  • Arriva drivers in Birkenhead earn £2.69 an hour more than Birkenhead Stagecoach drivers.
  • Arriva drivers in Birkenhead earn £2.13 an hour more than Stagecoach drivers in Chorley and Preston.
  • The ballot for strike action is set to end on August 28.

Sources:

  • Unite (trade union): Unite claims 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.
  • Liverpool ECHO (newspaper): Bus drivers in Merseyside ballot for strike action over pay disparities, 500 drivers in the North West are being balloted.
  • Stagecoach (bus operator): No formal response provided to the Liverpool ECHO request for comment.

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