Stagecoach Chesterfield bus drivers to strike

Bus services in Chesterfield face severe disruption this autumn and winter as drivers employed by the Yorkshire Traction Company, part of the Stagecoach group, take strike action over low pay.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Low pay is the scourge of the bus industry right across this country. Stagecoach made profits touching £60m last year and has £875m in the bank. Yet it cannot make a decent inflation-busting offer to its staff.

“Unite will be relentless in its campaign to ensure that our members at Stagecoach receive a fair pay increase. Stagecoach management leave us with no alternative.”

More than 50 bus drivers and cleaners based at the Stonegravels depot will take 13 days of strike action between October 18 and December 14. An all-out strike is also planned from December 20 to January 8.

The strikes were called after members rejected the latest offer by management following extensive negotiations with Unite.

Unite regional officer Scott Lennon said, “Our members have made it clear that they will no longer accept low pay. The planned strike action will undoubtedly cause widespread disruption to passengers across Chesterfield but the drivers believe they have no option but to take strike action to secure a decent wage.

“If the local management at Stagecoach wants to avoid these strikes then they should stop posturing, make a realistic pay offer and work with us to repair industrial relations.”

By Ryan Fletcher