Stagecoach faces disruption from industrial action
STAGECOACH depots in South Wales are set to go ahead with planned strike action, with disruptions to services expected to be felt across the Valleys.
Members of the Unite Wales Union in depots in Brynmawr, Cwmbran and Blackwood will begin the industrial action at 2am today, following what they describe as a breakdown in talks with Stagecoach over pay.
The union says drivers at Cwmbran, Blackwood and Brynmawr depots want a pay rise to £10.50 an hour with no strings attached. While Stagecoach has offered drivers a rise, they say it was without paid breaks and a reduction in sick pay agreements.
Stagecoach South Wales has said it is disappointed by the plans after offering a pay increase of more than 6%. They said sick pay rates would be at the same level agreed with the union at all other depots in Wales.
Speaking ahead of today’s strike action, Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy said the response from Stagecoach had been “a bitter pill to swallow”, after workers had delivered the service throughout the pandemic.
He said: “Unite representatives entered into talks with ACAS with optimism that there would be movement from Stagecoach. Instead, the message was, ‘We think you deserve it, but we don’t want to shoulder the cost.’”
“That’s a bitter pill to swallow, as government funding under the BES2 scheme has been covering operating costs for some time now, and continues until July 2022. Stagecoach have been benefiting from public funding, but will not pay a decent wage to workers who have delivered their services throughout the pandemic.”
A Stagecoach South Wales spokesperson said the planned action was a disappointing move, after the company had already offered workers a “significant pay increase”.
Strike action in Cwmbran, Brynmawr and Blackwood depots and will take place on the following dates:
From 2am on October 19 to October 24. Action will end at 1.59am.
From 2am on October 25 to October 26. Action will end at 1.59am
From 2am on October 29 to October 31. Action will end at 1.59am
From 2am on November 1 to November 7. Action will end at 1.59am
From 2am on November 8 to November 10. Action will end at 1.59am
From 2am on November 12 to November 13. Action will end at 1.59am Services affected by the strikes:
Blackwood areas
Services disrupted: 1A, 5, 9, 12, 14, 21, 26, 52, 56, 151, R1, R2, X15.
Schools/college services disrupted: 91, 95, 96, 98, X15, 151. The evening journeys on Service 50 will not run from Newport at 7.05pm, 8.05pm and 9.05pm. Evening journeys from Bargoed will not run at 8.16pm, 9.16pm and 10.16pm. Daytime journeys on Service 56 will not run but the evening journeys will continue to run at 7pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm from Newport and 8.45pm and 9.45pm from Tredegar.
Abergavenny, Blaenavon, Cwmbran, Hereford and Pontypool areas
Services disrupted: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, 46, 47, 83, X3,
X24.
Schools/college services disrupted: 2, 82, 97, 15, 23, 810, 815, X3.
The following school services will be running: 801, 802, 803, 807, STA1, STA2, 820.
Abertillery, Brynmawr and Ebbw Vale areas
Services disrupted: 1A, 3, 52, 56, E3, X4, X15, Fflecsi.
Blaenau Gwent and school services
Service X4 will run between Abergavenny and Cardiff but will not serve Bailey Street or Brynmawr bus station and will divert via the A4047 in both directions.
The last stop will be at Bryn Farm Estate. Journeys between Brynmawr and Merthyr Tydfil will not run
Schools/college services disrupted: X4.