Bus strike called off after new pay offer tabled

Unite members said their pay did not reflect responsibilities of the job

The second day of a planned bus workers' strike has been cancelled after a new pay offer was put forward.

Unite the Union members working as drivers, cleaners and engineers at Stagecoach North East walked out on Monday in a row over pay, but action scheduled for Thursday has been cancelled while staff consider the offer.

The union has warned if workers rejected the offer "indefinite strike action" would go ahead from 31 August.

Stagecoach North East has been approached for comment. The firm's managing director Steve Walker previously said he wanted to work with Unite to avoid the next strike.

"Following an improved offer from Stagecoach North East, Unite has suspended the strike on 21 August in order to ballot our members," said Dave Telford, regional officer for the union.

About 600 bus staff walked out on Monday from Newcastle, Sunderland and South Shields's Stagecoach sites, after rejecting a 5% pay rise offer.

The union claimed the offer was below inflation and did not reflect the responsibilities faced by staff.