Bus engineers employed by Go North East will take strike action in the week prior to Christmas.

The 150 engineers have rejected a 10 per cent pay increase, which is a real terms pay cut with the true inflation rate (RPI) standing at 14.2 per cent.

The engineers will begin strike action on Monday 19 December with the dispute ending on the morning of Sunday 25 December.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Go Ahead is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase. Its failure to do so is all about boosting its profits and not about affordability.

 “Our members at Go North East will receive Unite’s unflagging support.”

The strike action will cause considerable disruption to Go North East’s services as the engineers are responsible for ensuring that the buses are road worthy. It will effect bus routes operating from depots in Consett, Dunston, Gateshead, Hexham, North Shields, Sunderland and Washington.

Go North East is part of the Go Ahead group, which reported a profit before tax of £50 million for the six months ending 1 January 2022. Go Ahead has said that it expects healthy profits during 2022.

Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: “The strike action will inevitably cause delays, disruption and cancellation of services, but this dispute is of Go North East’s own making, it has had ample opportunity to resolve this dispute but has chosen not to do so.

 “Go North East need to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer which meets members’ expectations.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Go North East bus engineers balloted for strike action over pay 

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.