Strikes affecting bus services in Teesside, operated by Stagecoach, have been called off after workers accepted an improved pay offer.

Four days of strikes

Over 200 bus workers, based at Stagecoach’s depots in Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees, had taken four days of strike action this month.

Following fresh negotiations an improved pay offer was made to the workers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s largest union. This was accepted and further strike action has been cancelled.

Significant result

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a significant result for our members employed by Stagecoach. By standing together in unity they ensured that the company made a pay offer that met their expectations.

“Unite now does exactly what it says on the trade union tin: fight to defend our members’ jobs, pay and conditions. This approach is paying dividends for Unite members.”

Healthy increase

The workers will receive a minimum pay increase of 8.5 per cent paid in several stages over the next 10 months.

The bus drivers' grading system will also be revised so that new drivers with less than one year’s service will receive an upgrade, while all drivers with at least a years’ service will be placed on the top rate of pay. From December 2022 all top rate drivers, duty managers and inspectors will receive a yearly 20 pence increase to ensure that parity is achieved with pay rates at the Sunderland depot within five years.

In addition, all workers with at least two months' service prior to 31 October 2021 will receive a £140 lump sum payment.

Workers held firm

Unite regional co-ordinating officer Mark Sanderson said: “Special praise must go to Unite’s members who were prepared to take strike action to secure a fair pay offer.

 “Unite always believed that this dispute could be resolved through negotiations and this eventually proved to be the case.

 “The deal which was hammered out not only delivers a fair deal for members but also begins to tackle the pay inequalities faced by Teesside bus workers compared to other Stagecoach workers in the region.”

A similar dispute involving Unite members employed by Stagecoach on Tyneside was resolved without the need for industrial action.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Teesside Stagecoach strikes suspended as members ballot on new pay offer

During the coronavirus crisis Unite is working to keep workers and the public safe, to defend jobs and to protect incomes.

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.