Drivers wins dispute with Stagecoach for £1 an hour pay rise after 17 days of strike action
Union members at Stagecoach have won their dispute with the company after 17 days of strike action, achieving £10.50 per hour of pay back dated to April.
Around 200 drivers at Stagecoach’s depots in Cwmbran, Brynmawr and Blackwood staged a three-week walkout aimed at raising their wages from £9.50 an hour to £10.50 an hour.
The boss of Stagecoach South Wales, Nigel Winter, has accused their union, Unite, of “fuelling fantasy pay demands as part of a wider political agenda” and said “the union needs a reality-check on what is affordable”.
But Stagecoach ultimately relented in what the union Unite is calling a “huge win”. They added that they were “immensely proud” of their members.
Nigel Winter, Managing Director for Stagecoach South Wales, said: “We’re very proud of our team, who do a fantastic job in delivering vital transport connections for local people.
“We said right from the start that we were committed to getting a settlement to reflect the important role our people play and that also protects the long-term sustainability of the bus network for our customers and communities in South Wales.
“We’re pleased that through flexibility on both sides, and improvements in productivity, we have reached an agreement that achieves these aims through until April 2023 and that will bring an end to any further strike action.”
Nation.Cymru had revealed at the start of the strike that just 30 miles away in Bristol, the same company is offering £11.75 to trainee bus drivers. That rises to £11.80 in Plymouth and Barnstable.
Nation.Cymru had also reported the week before how the latest accounts of Stagecoach South Wales say directors’ remuneration rose from £181,000 to £229,000 between 2019 and 2020 and note: “The highest paid director received £180,000 (2019: £154,000).”
Unite had announced it would launch a fresh walkout lasting until January unless Stagecoach offered £10.50 without cuts to sick pay and paid breaks.
As the dispute got going, Stagecoach had paid for two advertorials in Wales Online and the South Wales Argus which say “the union’s demand for a 10.5% increase in one step is not achievable without damaging bus services”.
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Good on them. We have the Arriva drivers doing exactly the same here in North Wales currently.
Wouldn’t be surprised if there are acts of spiteful retaliation over the next year or so. These guys start muttering about “breaking even”, “insufficient return” and next thing they’ll be cutting staff and messing about just to “get even”. Perhaps they should take a look at how much goes out in senior salaries and overhead and make their organisation a touch more lean and less mean.
Isn’t it racist to pay Welsh workers Les than English workers doing the same job for the same company where are the Welsh labour government for allowing this to Go on???
Not been paying attention to the emasculation of worker rights legislation since Thatcher’s day then? The Tories did devolve some powers but not to Wales.
This proves the United Kingdom is a facade, and where Scotland is treated as an equal to England ,Wales and the Welsh are regarded as a lesser nation & people who are cynically singled out and denied devolution parity & equality.
I don’t think that legislation covers pay
It is questionable to pay fully qualified drivers in Wales less than their English counterparts who are currently qualifying. Are the Welsh deemed lesser people?
Also, although the Welsh Government has power over business rates in Wales cannot set pay rates in the private sector. Stagecoach is a private company based in Perth, Scotland.
I wouldn’t class that has a victory the drivers in Wales are still being payed a lot less than the drivers in England working for the same company that has got to be racist
Although I’m pleased for the Welsh drivers of Stagecoach, the wage increase given still falls short compared to their English counterparts. It’s still unacceptable in my eyes to be paid less for doing the exact same job.
Great news, it’s just a shame it took 17days for the tight fisted devils to give up just £1ph !
Is there a reason why Nation Cymru are ignoring the Arriva strike in North Wales?
Im shocked by how little coverage there is in the media, an essential service has been stopped by strike for 5 weeks and not a single story!