Bus strikes off as driver pay agreement reached

Strike action by 600 bus drivers has been called off after workers accepted a new pay deal.

First Bus drivers working the City Line had previously walked out from 19 to 22 September, causing mass disruption to inner-city services in Bristol.

First West of England previously would not commit to backpay - but Unite union says a deal has now been reached on an 8.6% pay increase for the last two years.

The bus company said it was "pleased to be able to continue providing regular bus services" and thanked customers for their patience.

The bus drivers work for the Lawrence Hill and Hengrove Bus depots, which serve Bristol city centre, Bristol Airport and Amazon's Bristol warehouse and local schools and universities.

Unite said drivers had faced below-inflation pay rises for the past three years and began calling for a fair and sustainable wage agreement.

Unite announced earlier that workers at the City Line will now get £250 non-consolidated backpay and their rest day working pay has gone up by 50p to £1.51 per hour, the union said.

Drivers will receive an increase from £16 an hour to £16.50 backdated to 1 April.

This goes up to £17 an hour backdated to 28 September, before workers have another rise to £17.40 an hour from 1 April 2025.

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People forget its not just about pay. Members will want better terms and conditions which I don't blame them given all the stuff drivers have got to put up with something I know from personal experience as a driver myself and having given national express coaches in Bristol.

Although as TG says, if drivers receive a pay rise, they must increase their working week hours to pay for it! 

People forget its not just about pay. Members will want better terms and conditions which I don't blame them given all the stuff drivers have got to put up with something I know from personal experience as a driver myself and having given national express coaches in Bristol.

Bus driver strikes at start of October suspended

Planned strike action which was to affect bus users from 1-5 October has been suspended.

Members of the Unite union who work as drivers for First Bus in Bristol had planned to walk out from 1 to 14 October in an ongoing row about pay. But after negotiation through Acas, the industrial action has been suspended.

Any strike action after this date is subject to a ballot being voted on, after a revised pay offer from First Bus. Results are due next week.

Managing Director of First West of England, Doug Claringbold said: "We welcome today's announcement from Unite the Union that planned strike action in Bristol has been suspended while union members are balloted on our offer. We recognise the frustration and inconvenience that strikes cause our customers and we want to avoid further action. We continue to urge the union to work with us to deliver a resolution acceptable to all parties."

The strikes in September saw 600 drivers walk out for four days. Negotiations have been going on for six months.

Unite said its members were spending half of their wages on rent and had not been able to save money at the same time First had made an operating profit of £204.3m.

"First Bus is a very profitable firm, but its hard-working workers are struggling to pay the bills," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

Obviously I want drivers to be paid properly, with good conditions of work and polite passengers.

That said, I wonder if there's a bit of politics on the part of Unite.

People forget its not just about pay. Members will want better terms and conditions which I don't blame them given all the stuff drivers have got to put up with something I know from personal experience as a driver myself and having given national express coaches in Bristol.

Two weeks of further bus strikes announced in city

Bus drivers in Bristol have announced two more weeks of strikes after talks broke down in an ongoing row over pay.

First Bus drivers are partway through a four-day strike which ends on Friday, with about 600 drivers taking part in the industrial action.

The drivers have now voted to take further strike action from 1-14 October after talks broke down between First West of England and Unite.

First said it wanted to "find a solution" to the "unnecessary" strikes, while Unite has accused the firm of "putting profits over people".

Unite said its members were spending half of their wages on rent and had not been able to save money at the same time First had made an operating profit of £204.3m.

"First Bus is a very profitable firm, but its hard-working workers are struggling to pay the bills," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

The union said First had refused to negotiate with Unite and had rejected support from the conciliation service Acas.

Ms Graham added: "The situation is deplorable and it is little wonder they have voted to take further industrial action."

This week's strikes, which began on Tuesday, have caused widespread disruption in the city with many services not running.

Unite warned the length of the second wave of strikes, which will once again see 600 drivers walk out, means it is likely to cause severe disruption, including cancellations and delays.

First West of England managing director Doug Claringbold said: "These [strikes] are unnecessary and, most importantly, hugely disruptive to our customers, and it is within the hands of the union to stop this action. We have always maintained an open dialogue with the union and while they continue to reject our full and final offer, which has been accepted by other areas in our region, we still hope to find a solution to encourage the union to call off their strikes. I was pleased that during the first day of strikes this week we kept about 60% of services within, and serving, Bristol running."

Bus passengers are being warned over potential disruption as drivers ballot to take strike action.

More than 1,000 drivers working for First West of England could take action after rejecting an "unsatisfactory" pay offer.

If the members of Unite Union, which has urged the company to come back with an improved offer, vote to strike then services in Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Wells could be affected.

First Bus West of England's managing director Doug Claringbold said: "Our above-inflation pay offer reflects the value we put on colleagues and demonstrates our commitment to protecting staff from the rising cost of living - even in the challenging financial environment we operate in."  He added that the operator remains open to having "constructive discussions" with drivers to reach a "fair resolution".

The dispute comes after members rejected a two-year pay deal which the union has said would give them an extra £1 of pay per hour from now until March 2026. After that, drivers will be given a 30p hourly increase from April 2026. New starters will be offered 50p extra on the hourly rate, which goes up by 10p in April 2026.

The company is part of First Group PLC. Last year, the group recorded an operating profit of £204.3m and share dividends were increased by 45%, compared to the previous year.

Unite regional officer Amy Roberts said: "We appreciate local residents may be concerned to hear of potential strike action, but First West of England has failed to put forward a meaningful pay offer to our members. Drivers at First West of England do a vital job for the general public and deserve to be paid fairly. We urge First West of England to come back to the table with a better offer to avoid any disruption."