Bus drivers consider walkout in pay dispute
Shoppers and people travelling to work face the prospect of a bus strike in September.
The Unite union is currently ballotting its 800 members employed as bus drivers at Arriva depots in Kent and Essex on whether they wish to strike over a pay demand.
Arriva has offered its workers a pay rise of 7.8% – well under the current rate of inflation of 9.4%, with inflation expected to climb still higher thanks to soaring energy prices.
The union points out that Arriva has made £560 million in profits over the past 10 years, while its parent company Deutche Bahn recorded profits of £5.9 billion in the same period.
The bus drivers are currently taking part in a ballot that closes tomorrow (Friday).
If they agree to strike, stoppages could start next month.
Unite said it had held extensive negotiations with Arriva but had been unable to shift the company from its position, which, it says, represents a substantial pay-cut in real terms.
Bus drivers earn on average around £12.12 an hour.
General secretary of Unite Sharon Graham said: “Arriva and its parent company, Deutsche Bahn, are fabulously wealthy and can fully afford to make our members a decent pay offer. The company is prioritising paying dividends to shareholders over decent wages for workers. Unite will provide its members with the union’s total support until a pay offer which meets members’ expectations is made, which would resolve the dispute.”
The bus depots affected include Gillingham, Maidstone, Gravesend and Tunbridge Wells.
An Arriva spokesman said: “Our people play a hugely important role in keeping communities moving and they fully deserve a pay rise – especially with the cost of living increasing so much. That’s why, despite the significant pressures on the bus sector with increasing costs and passenger numbers still at below pre-pandemic levels, we’ve offered our people a generous pay rise that’s far higher than most workers are receiving from their employers at a time of considerable economic pressure.”