Stagecoach Merseyside bus workers to take all-out strike action

(Sharecast News) - Bus workers at Stagecoach Merseyside will take all-out strike action in a dispute over pay, the Unite union has said.

Unite said 370 bus workers based at the company's Gilmoss depot walked out on Monday after Stagecoach failed to make an improved pay offer.

The union said its members will now take all-out (continuous) strike action from Wednesday 20 July. Prior to this, there will be one-day strikes on Friday 15 and Monday 18.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Stagecoach is a wealthy company - it can easily afford to pay fairly and Unite is determined to ensure that it does.

"Our members simply want the rate for the job and are not going to accept being underpaid a moment longer. Stagecoach's refusal to make an offer that would resolve this dispute has, however, resulted in an escalation in industrial action.

"Unite will be giving our members the union's complete support until they receive an acceptable pay increase."

Stagecoach bus drivers are paid £12.69 an hour. Unite pointed out that in the second half of 2021, profits at the company more than doubled to £32.9m from £16.1m.