Passengers face delays as First bus staff go on strike

The strike will take place between the 30 October to 2 November

Passengers are expected to face "significant" disruption across south and west Wales from Thursday due to a bus company pay dispute.

First Cymru staff have begun a four-day strike after rejecting their company's latest pay offer.

According to Unite the Union, workers feel they're being "short-changed", claiming the company already pays "some of the lowest wages in the industry."

First Cymru said it had listened to the union and that their "door remains open to negotiation".

The firm operates nearly 100 routes around south and west Wales with its First Bus services.

A planned strike for 22 October was postponed as Unite members hoped for progress on a new pay deal.

But despite extensive negotiations, Unite said its First Cymru members were left "furious" and rejected the latest pay offer, which they said "still withheld members' back pay".

In response, members have declared a four day strike action up to 2 November.

An additional four day strike action has also been declared for 5-8 November, with the prospect of further strikes throughout the Christmas period not ruled out.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "First is guilty of trying to deny workers the back pay they are fully entitled to, in order to line its own pockets.

"Our members have roundly rejected this latest offer which denies them pay justice, and they have Unite's complete support throughout this dispute."

The union claims First Cymru pays new recruits a lower wage for 12 months -creating a two-tier workforce that "breeds unhappiness among staff".

It said the First Group transport network that First Cymru is part of made more than £200 million profit in the last financial year, with its chief executive paid more than £3 million.

"The announcement of the uplift in the Real Living Wage for 2026 to £13.45 has shown workers that their employer is wholly undervaluing their roles" it said, claiming that First Bus workers in Wales are also £3 per hour worse off than colleagues in Bristol.

First Cymru have said that throughout the "extensive negotiation process" it had listened to feedback from Unite members and made "several offers" to settle the dispute, and ensure customers who rely on their services are not affected by strike action.

"Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite the Union has decided to press ahead with strikes, affecting our customers," it said.

Information about what services will be affected during the strike period are available on First Cymru's website.

The bus company is encouraging passengers to check the website regularly for updates as information "may change at short notice."

Many services are operating at a reduced timetable, with some services unlikely to operate at all.