First Bus drivers and supervisors to walk out over lack of fair
offer
Over 140 drivers and supervisors at First Bus in Hampshire are
set to strike this month after the company failed to make a
reasonable fair pay offer.
Workers based at the Hoeford depot who operate across Gosport,
Fareham, Portsmouth and into Southampton will take to the picket
line to demonstrate their anger at the pay rates on offer.
Staff are now being paid barely above the minimum wage for a
skilled and stressful job. Strikes are due to take place
from 19-27 December meaning that bus services over the
Christmas period will be close to zero. First has offered
workers just a four per cent pay deal and has also refused to
reinstate many of the terms and conditions that were removed
during the Covid pandemic.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “First Group is
making millions of pounds of profit across the UK on public
transport yet is treating its workers and the communities they
come from in Hampshire with disdain.
“To pay barely above the minimum wage for a skilled and
high-pressure job is utterly unacceptable and our members at
First will have the full support of Unite in their dispute.
First Group had revenues of nearly £5 billion in 2023 across the
UK while First Hampshire & Dorset had a turnover of nearly
£37 million.
Unite regional officer Ian Woodland added: “Our members have
had their pay undermined for years and their terms and conditions
eroded by uncaring management. Enough is enough. “First
Hampshire will now see its services grind to a halt over
Christmas as our members head to the picket line.
“This is strike of First Group's own making and it needs to
urgently come back to the negotiating table with an improved
offer our members can accept.”
