Huge relief as bus strike is called off

A planned bus strike which could have resulted in isolation for older people in Rutherglen has been called off.

Rutherglen Seniors Forum has welcomed news that industrial action has been avoided just days after drivers in Glasgow’s largest bus firm threatened to park up their double deckers.

Staff at First Glasgow say the company’s failure to employ and retain bus drivers was putting undue pressure on workers and putting public services in jeopardy.

They voted in favour of strike action when a consultative ballot was held by union Unite, which is urging First Glasgow to address starting pay and career progression - issues they say have caused the approximate 100 driver shortage.

But in a statement released on Friday, Unite regional officer Wendy Dunsmore said: “Following drivers making their views absolutely clear with last week’s emphatic ballot result, meaningful dialogue has now taken place and both First Glasgow and Unite are determined to seek a satisfactory outcome.

“The current positive dialogue means that we will be halting any moves to an official industrial action ballot”.

Evelyn Kearney of Rutherglen Seniors Forum welcomed the news, but said the issue ‘needed sorted out’ in the long term.

She said: “The management of First Glasgow and the workers need to get together to resolve this issue. To leave an area without a bus service is not acceptable.

“I am a driver, I am rarely on the bus, but the majority of our members come to the meetings by bus and they use it a lot.

“We have between 15 and 20 members and they belong to other groups such as craft groups, reading groups, heritage groups and they in turn are in touch with five or six other pensioners, many of whom rely on public transport.

“A number of them are also members of the church and the different things that they have on including clubs. It would be impossible for some of them to take part should the buses be removed.

“It’s the health effect of having the bus pass that’s so important. It stops isolation and depression, that’s the major thing about public transport.”

Rutherglen pensioners have been keeping a watchful eye on their bus services after the Number 21 bus serving Fernhill was temporarily rerouted, leaving a number of elderly people feeling cut off from amenities and services.