Home / Business and Economy / Cambridge Bus Strike Halts Services Into February
Cambridge Bus Strike Halts Services Into February
21 Jan
Summary
- Bus drivers in Cambridge are continuing strike action into February over pay disputes.
- Stagecoach East's offer of a 4% pay rise was rejected by Unite the Union.
- Union cites lower pay compared to Manchester and Liverpool drivers for the dispute.
Bus drivers and engineers in Cambridge will continue their industrial action into February, as announced by Unite the Union. The dispute centers on pay, with around 200 workers at Stagecoach East having already participated in strikes over the Christmas period and into January.
Stagecoach East's managing director, Darren Roe, stated that the company was notified of the extended strikes. He mentioned that despite multiple meetings, the company could not meet the union's demand for a 9% pay increase, calling it "unreasonable." Roe also noted that the industrial action is negatively impacting customers and employees.
Unite the Union has countered that Cambridge drivers earn £16.22 per hour, significantly less than their counterparts in Manchester (£18) and Liverpool (£17.43). The union emphasized that the disruption is Stagecoach's fault and strikes will persist until an acceptable offer is made.
Stagecoach East implemented a 4% pay rise for the Cambridge team from December 28, mirroring increases at other depots. The company has stated it will operate 90% of its services during strike days, utilizing 70% of its own drivers and supplemented by loaned drivers from other regions.
