"Hundreds of Go North East bus drivers begin week-long strike"

Hundreds of bus drivers have started a week of strike action over pay and conditions, bringing all services to a stop.

Go North East workers from all six of its depots in Sunderland, Washington Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main, Consett have walked out.

The bus company said it was unable to run any services except the "vast majority" of its school contracts.

Unite the Union said it was "always available to negotiate".

Last-minute pay talks between the operator and union bosses ended "without resolution", starting continuous disruption up until, and including, 6 October. [...]

Dave Telford, from Unite, joined more than a dozen workers at the picket line at the company's Hexham bus depot, where all buses have been suspended.

"Look, members don't want to be here," he told the BBC.

"These good people would rather be driving the buses, servicing the buses, and taking people to where they want to be.

"We've been forced into this position by the operator's refusal to table a reasonable offer."

Mr Telford said driver members were paid £12.83 an hour, while other drivers in the Go Ahead group were paid a minimum of £15 an hour.

Bus drivers previously told the BBC that an initial offer of 9.11% in the first year, followed by the rate of inflation next year, would cost drivers "hundreds of pounds" in the long-term.

They said the company wanted to lock in a deal and strip away existing conditions, which include a reduction in paid meal breaks and the paid time to travel between depots. [...]

Business director Ben Maxfield said: "We've put more money on the table and listened to drivers who have asked us to slow down moves to bring their working practices into line with competitors. [...]

He said work would continue "towards the quickest solution possible".