Xplore Dundee staff to strike in pay row

Workers at Xplore Dundee have confirmed they will strike in a dispute over pay.

About 200 employed by the firm – which is owned by Mcgill’s – have backed the action.

The impact on the city’s bus services is yet to be confirmed but more details and dates about the action are expected to be revealed in the coming days.

The action, led by Unite, comes after Xplore refused to increase a 7% pay offer.

It comes after Xplore Dundee used a staff wage rise as part of the justification for raising fares in April – only to later admit a pay deal had not yet been struck.

Xplore has confirmed it will not be budging on the 7% offer.

Unite says after an 88.6% turnout for the strike ballot, 93% of workers backed strike action.

The workers include drivers, duty managers, platform staff and administrative staff.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Xplore Dundee workers have emphatically backed strike action.

“The company need to realise, and quickly, that our members are not prepared to accept what amounts to a pay cut.

“Xplore Dundee can pay more and they must because if they don’t, the city’s only bus operator will be brought to a stop.”

A spokesman for the firm branded the move “deeply disappointing”, saying the company has negotiated “in good faith”.

He said: “The 7% pay rise put forward was a fair offer.

“It is regrettable that Dundee will be affected by Unite’s action whilst staff in other parts of the Mcgill’s Group in Scotland, including the maintenance department in Dundee, have agreed a deal up to or equal to what has been offered.”