"Lancashire bus drivers vote for strike action over pay", 1 October 2021

Drivers employed by the Ribble Motor Services Ltd, part of the Stagecoach group, have voted to take industrial action over low pay, after members rejected the latest offer by management following extensive negotiations with Unite.

The 250 bus drivers based at the Preston and Chorley depots will take three days of strike action...There will then be a further 48 hour strike...

[Unite the] union said low pay rates are causing increasing driver shortages at both depots...

Matt Davies, Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire said: "...Bus services across the country are facing a continuing challenging financial environment with passenger levels significantly down on pre-Covid levels. Bus passenger fares are significantly short of what is needed just to cover even the day-to-day costs of running services...

We have also done all we reasonably can to hold constructive discussions with Unite and reach a sensible and sustainable pay agreement across our bus depots in Lancashire...

However, Unite has shown no interest in reaching similar agreements covering bus drivers at our Preston and Chorley depots and instead insists on fuelling fantasy pay demands.

"We have offered our drivers a pay increase that is in line with inflation, and that comes on top of a 2.25 per cent increase last year."...