Hull Stagecoach bus workers to strike

A huge industrial action mandate will see more than 250 Hull Stagecoach bus drivers, cleaners, engineers and commercial assistants take all out strike action from 7 October until 29 December. Hull Fair runs from 7 October to 15 October.

‘Palpable anger’ at a below inflation pay offer, lack of pay parity compared to other areas and a one per cent increase in wages since 2019, resulted in workers voting by 96 per cent for strike action in a ballot with an 87 per cent turnout.

Stagecoach, whose revenues increased by nearly £300 million to £1.2 billion in 2021/22, is offering workers a one year 8.7 per cent increase. With the real rate of inflation, RPI, standing at 12.3 per cent, this is a real terms pay cut.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “There is palpable anger amongst our membership at their unequal and stagnant wages when Stagecoach is awash with cash. It can pay and it should pay. Unite fights for our members’ jobs, pay and conditions so we will be relentless in the campaign to ensure Stagecoach members in Hull get a fair deal.”

Workers are angry that their wages have fallen far behind their Stagecoach colleagues in other parts of the country. For instance, Stagecoach drivers in Merseyside earn £14 an hour, while Hull drivers earn just £11.14. Pay for Stagecoach drivers in Hull has gone up by just one per cent in three years.

The workers are asking for a pay increase that reflects the rates paid to workers in other parts of the country. For drivers, this would mean an increase to £13 per hour, with other roles increasing in-line with the same percentage.

Unite regional coordinating officer Harriet Eisner added, “The last thing our members want to do is strike, but Stagecoach has left them with no choice. They are struggling with rising living costs, are paid less than their colleagues in other parts of the country and haven’t been given a decent rise in years. Stagecoach can afford to come back with an offer our members can accept.”

By Ryan Fletcher