First Cymru drivers get pay increase after eight days of strikes
Bus drivers across South Wales are celebrating a pay win after
securing an above-inflation award.
Members of the Unite trade union had been locked in a bitter
struggle with their employer Frist Cymru and taken eight days of
strike action to highlight the low levels of pay they were
receiving.
On Friday, workers accepted a new offer from the company that
will see them get a five per cent increase
backdated to 1 April. This will see drivers' pay move to £14.25
per hour now and then rising progressively to £15 per hour from 1
Jan 2027.
In addition to the drivers, the pay uplifts will apply to all
other grades, including engineers, admin & clerical, and
service personnel. Cleaners will see a temporary uplift to pay
until 1 April 2026 when the Real Living Wage of £13.45 will apply
and surpass this increase.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "There is
power in a union and the victory achieved by First Cymru workers
in south Wales is a testament to the power of workers coming
together and fighting for what they merit.
“First Cymru workers deserve the credit for standing firm
and being prepared to take strike action to reach their aims
against an employer who had been set on cutting real-terms
pay."
Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy added: “Unite
members at First Cymru have shown the power of collective action,
winning this dispute to gain a much-improved pay award from their
employer. However, the fact that they had to take strike action
at all should be a real concern for key stakeholders in Transport
For Wales and the Welsh Government.
“The fact remains that these workers will still be among
the lowest paid in the sector. Steps must be taken to ensure that
low pay is eliminated in our Welsh bus sector, under the new
franchising model. Unite remains steadfast in its belief that
workers will not suffer financially for
franchising.”
Following the acceptance of this pay award, all further
industrial action is now cancelled.
