Bus drivers' strike called off after pay offer

Unite has recommended its members accept the improved pay offer

A bus drivers' strike in Huddersfield has been called off after an improved pay offer was put forward, the Unite union confirmed.

About 170 drivers employed by First Bus were due to take industrial action from Monday until 16 February, and again in March.

First said the new pay offer would bring the hourly rate for drivers in Huddersfield to £15.35 (£13.89 for new starters) from April 2025, which aligned with other depots of a similar size and scale.

The union said it would hold a ballot of drivers and was recommending its members accept the offer.

Unite regional officer Darren Rushworth said: "Following an improved offer from First West Yorkshire, Unite has suspended strikes in order to ballot its members on the new offer."

First Bus said the package included staged pay increases for drivers and lump sum payments up to £1,400 or more, dated back to September 2024.

The overall deal covers a period of 24 months from April 2024 to April 2026.

Megan Hope, operations director of First Bus North and West Yorkshire, said: "We are delighted that Unite is recommending this generous offer in pay for our Huddersfield drivers.

"We have continued to talk with Unite and invited representatives to review the structure of the deal available to reach a settlement that would benefit the drivers, whilst not increasing the overall cost.

"The whole team continues to focus on delivering an excellent service throughout the communities we serve in the Huddersfield area and avoiding the disruption of industrial action."

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