Planned strike action involving bus drivers employed by Stagecoach West due to begin this Thursday (10 March) has been called off after the workers accepted a greatly improved pay offer.

Cheltenham festival

The resolution of the dispute means that the Stagecoach shuttle bus service which takes customers to the Cheltenham festival will not be disrupted. 

The 380 drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have accepted a pay increase worth up to 12 per cent for 2021 and 2022.

Win for members

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a great win for our members who, by standing together collectively, have ensured that Stagecoach made a vastly improved pay offer.

“This pay deal demonstrates how Unite’s strategy of always prioritising the jobs, pay and conditions of workers is paying dividends.”

The dispute was the first time ever that the drivers, who are based at the Bristol, Cheltenham, Coalway, Gloucester, Stroud, and Swindon depots, had ever voted for strike action.

Hard work

Unite regional officer Shevaun Hunt said: “This pay deal could not have been achieved without the hard work of Unite’s reps and by our members being prepared to stand up and say they were no longer prepared to accept low pay. 

“This deal is a first step in tackling pay issues at the company. It is hoped that Unite and Stagecoach West can now work together to ensure that further progress is made in ensuring fair pay for all drivers employed by the company.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Stagecoach bus drivers in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to strike during Cheltenham Festival in low pay dispute

 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.