Bus driver strike called off after new pay offer

Drivers from Stagecoach were due to walk out for four days from Friday

A strike involving hundreds of bus drivers in Liverpool has been suspended after a fresh pay offer was made.

Nearly 500 Stagecoach drivers were due to walk out on Friday for four days after claiming they were being paid thousands less than staff at a rival firm.

The Unite union said the action had been paused after the transport operator put a new offer on the table.

Stagecoach said the move followed "positive talks" with Unite, who said said it would now hold a ballot on the proposed new deal.

'Goodwill gesture'

The dispute emerged after the drivers said they were paid about £3,000-a-year less than counterparts working in the city for rival firm Arriva.

Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said the bus company had "got away with paying its Liverpool drivers on the cheap".

Drivers previously took action on 24 and 25 June and from 5 to 8 July.

Unite regional officer Brian Troake said: “Following a new offer from Stagecoach we are now balloting our members.

"As a goodwill gesture the strikes that were due to take place from 12 to 15 July are now paused while the drivers are consulted.”

Matt Davies, Stagecoach's managing director for Merseyside, said: “Following positive talks with Unite, we are pleased to have reached agreement on a revised pay proposal for our people at Gillmoss depot that is being recommended by the union."

He welcomed the suspension of action and said services would run as planned.