Arriva Bus Wales drivers vote in favour of industrial action over pay dispute

Arriva bus drivers across North Wales have voted “hugely in favour of industrial action” following a ballot. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Drivers who are members of Unite Union had until Tuesday to vote over possible strike action in a dispute with Arriva Buses Wales over pay. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Bus drivers across 6 North Wales depots including Hawarden, Wrexham and Rhyl voted in the ballot, the result was revealed on social media by Unite. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The union tweeted: “Our message is clear, Arriva need to step up & pay their Drivers what they deserve” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Industrial action and strikes could start as early as November. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

BREAKING NEWS: Our members at @arrivabuswales have voted hugely in favour of industrial action. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Arriva’s refusal to offer a fair pay increase has left Drivers with no other option. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Our message is clear, Arriva need to step up & pay their Drivers what they deserve.#CheersDrive pic.twitter.com/LFdJ1ceuQP ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

— UniteWales (@UniteWales) October 26, 2021 ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Ahead of the ballot, Unite Regional Officer, Jo Goodchild said last month ;  “Arriva’s refusal to put forward an adequate pay increase means Unite has no choice but to ballot for industrial action.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our bus drivers have been true heroes during the pandemic.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“They have played a crucial in keeping the country moving, ensuring our hospital staff and other key workers were able to get to work during the pandemic.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Disgracefully despite all their efforts they have been subjected to verbal abuse, sometimes even physical abuse from passengers whilst trying to ensure everybody’s safety whilst travelling on board the vehicles.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Low pay and tough working conditions have led to a significant number of bus driver shortages across North Wales and the public is facing bus services being cut on a weekly basis. ” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is all down to Arriva and other companies simply not paying the rate for the job. ” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Our members have had enough. It is time for Arriva to stop the rot, think again and give our members the decent pay award they deserve”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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