Aberdeen bus drivers to strike over wage freeze

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 12:16

BUS drivers were today preparing for a one-day strike over wages.

Workers at First Bus in Aberdeen will walkout tomorrow after rejecting the firm's proposal for a pay freeze and have asked for a 4% increase.

Along with the strike, the drivers will be on an indefinite work-to-rule and will do no overtime.

Last minute talks between the Unite union and management and conciliation service Acas failed to reach a resolution.

First said it will provide free buses every 30 minutes on all routes tomorrow in an attempt to minimise disruption.

Unite's regional organiser Tommy Campbell said the union is still prepared to meet management today.

But he said: "The staff are determined to see this dispute through and regret the inconvenience to passengers but to fight back against this greedy profitable company is the only choice union members have, given that the company won't negotiate a fair and reasonable pay settlement based on sharing out some of its huge profits."

Bob Dorr, managing director of First in Aberdeen, said: "Our aim has always been to avert industrial action and we are obviously extremely disappointed that the union is pressing ahead with the strike.

"It is particularly frustrating and difficult to understand given that less than a third of the union's membership voted to take such action."

First Bus drivers are "among the best paid in the industry" and enjoy "industry-leading pension schemes and share-ownership plans", according to Mr Dorr.

He added: "I would like to reassure our customers that we are doing all we can to keep the city moving and provide as regular a service as possible while this action takes place."