Around 200 West Midland’s National Express engineers have voted by 96 per cent in a consultative ballot to strike after their driver colleagues were offered a better deal.

The engineers, responsible for repairing and maintaining National Express’ fleet of over 1,200 buses covering 93 per cent of the West Midlands bus network, have been offered a percentage pay increase that is less than their bus driver colleagues have been offered.  

Unite, the UK’s leading union, said National Express, which made £15.8 million in profits during the first half of 2022, needs to offer all its workers the same deal.

Unite regional officer Sulinder Singh said: “Our engineer members are rightly angry that the pay offer to their colleagues is a better deal. The support for strike action is such that Unite is now beginning to prepare for formal industrial action proceedings. 

“The cost of living crisis is hitting National Express’ staff equally and the company can well afford to put forward the same offer to all its workers. Members’ jobs, pay and conditions are Unite’s top priority and the engineers at National Express will receive their union’s full support.”

If the engineers go on strike, National Express services in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, West Bromwich and elsewhere would be severely affected. 

ENDS 

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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.