Bus services in South Yorkshire face severe disruption this autumn and winter as drivers employed by Stagecoach take strike action over low pay.

More than 560 workers, based at Stagecoach depots in Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in response to the company failing to make a realistic pay offer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Low pay is the scourge of the bus industry right across this country. Stagecoach made profits touching £60m last year and has £875m in the bank. Yet it cannot make a decent offer to its staff. 

“Unite is pledged to fight for the jobs pay and conditions of our members so we will be relentless in the campaign to ensure that our members at Stagecoach, in South Yorkshire, get a fair deal.” 

The strikes were called after members rejected the latest offer by management following extensive negotiations with Unite. Stagecoach offered its South Yorkshire workers just 2 per cent, compared to pay deals secured by Unite in other areas of the country of 6.5 per cent, 7.5 per cent and even 10.5 per cent.  

Notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, Stagecoach’s latest accounts reveal that the group made a profit of £58.4 million in 2020 and that it has £875 million of available liquidity.

Strike action will take place in Barnsley and Rotherham everyday between Saturday 27 November and Saturday 4 December.

In Sheffield, strike action will take everyday between Sunday 28 November and Sunday 5 December.  

Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “Bus workers were rightly hailed as heroes during successive lockdowns. However, warm words do not pay the bills and Stagecoach needs to reward its workers' dedication with a decent pay award.”

ENDS 

For media enquires ONLY contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215.   

Email: [email protected]  

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Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.