Devon bus strike confirmed

Stagecoach union members angry about pay

A one-day bus strike in Devon has been confirmed after Stagecoach and the RMT union failed to reach agreement in a dispute over pay.

Stagecoach South West claims the union is making "fantasy pay demands" for drivers at Plymouth depot. The company says it's offered them an 18% increase in their basic hourly rate, taking basic pay from £10 an hour to £11.80 per hour from today, 1 October.  But they want some productivity improvements too in order to deliver the £75-a-week increase.

Stagecoach says the RMT has failed to put the offer to a full ballot of its members and union leaders have rejected the offer on their behalf.

Union members will now walk out for 24 hours on Monday 18 October.

Last week, the company said it had offered a nine per cent rise to workers at other Devon depots, also linked to productivity improvements, or a 2.2 per cent rise without strings.

In common with many bus operators, Stagecoach is suffering a driver shortage and is understood to have lost staff to higher-paying companies that need HGV drivers. During the pandemic, with fewer people travelling, the company saw a substantial drop in revenues. Drivers were categorised as key workers by the government and continued to interact with the public at a time of a high risk to public health.

Stagecoach South West managing director Mike Watson, said: "Both local people and businesses will be outraged that the union has rejected such a substantial pay offer and is planning to damage their lives and livelihoods by disrupting critical transport links. Many of our employees support the offer we have made and are incensed by the stance of the RMT.

"Our employees absolutely deserve a pay rise for all their hard work throughout the pandemic, but the union needs a reality-check on what is affordable."

He continued: "he RMT has shown no interest in finding a sustainable solution and has not even bothered to put our offer of an extra £75 a week to a full ballot of its members. The RMT clearly does not have the real interests of its members at heart and its fantasy pay demands are obviously part of a wider political agenda.

"Any talk of industrial action by the union is irresponsible and counterproductive when the focus should be on protecting the jobs of our people and the long-term sustainability of bus services for the local community."

The union is angry that some of the productivity improvements include a reduction in paid working hours. They've now confirmed that Devon drivers will walk out as part of action that also includes staff in other parts of the country. They say they're furious that Stagecoach is undertaking "a sustained campaign of abuse and misinformation,"  and that they have "no option" but to strike.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The massive votes for action by Stagecoach members reflect the growing disgust amongst bus workers at being kicked in the teeth on pay while inflation and wages elsewhere are rising steeply.

“Instead of responding positively to that justified ‎anger from their staff with a fair offer the Stagecoach operation has instead resorted to a gutter campaign of abuse against their own staff designed to provoke a public backlash and that is what is happening right now. It is a disgrace."

He added:“RMT is fighting for professional wages for professional bus workers and our members are leading that charge right across the country now‎.

“We have had no option but to put this action on for the 18th October and the company should stop their attacks on their staff and start talking seriously about a just and fair settlement.”