- 800 Leeds bus drives strike over company’s refusal to move
pay anniversary date back to normal
Around 800 First West Yorkshire bus drivers will begin strike
action every day from 18
June over the company’s refusal to return the date
on which new pay rises are enacted back to normal.
The workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union,
agreed during the pandemic to change their anniversary pay date
to October to assist the company financially.
First West Yorkshire has refused to move the date back to April
however, meaning workers have been left struggling during the
cost-of-living crisis and will not receive a much needed pay
increase until October at the earliest.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham
said: “When First West Yorkshire needed its
drivers to dig deep for the company, they did. Not only did they
put their and their families’ health on the line by continuing to
drive First buses, they also agreed to delay getting a pay
rise.
“First Group have taken advantage of this sacrifice
to keep their drivers’ wages down as inflation has rocketed. Our
members are absolutely right to strike at what is essentially a
stab in the back by First West Yorkshire and they will receive
Unite’s total support.”
Bus drivers had one of the
highest mortality rates for workers who died from Covid19 during
the pandemic.
In March, FirstGroup
announced that its operating profits for 2023 are
expected to be higher than the previously estimated £137.4
million. In 2022, the group brought in operating profits of
£226.8 million.
The workers are based out of First West Yorkshire’s two Leeds
depots, meaning bus services across the city will be severely
affected.
Unite regional officer Darren Rushworth
said: “First’s profits
continue to soar. This dispute can be brought to an end quickly
and simply: First West Yorkshire need to return the anniversary
date back to April and begin pay talks.”
