Strike ballot for 500 bus drivers in pay dispute

Hundreds of drivers are being balloted this month

Hundreds of bus drivers in the north-west of England could go on strike next month in a row over pay.

The Unite trade union said members working for Stagecoach in Birkenhead, Chorley and Preston were demanding a pay rise to fix "huge disparities" between rival bus operators.

The strike ballot, open until 28 August, will see 500 drivers being asked whether they would support taking industrial action.

Stagecoach said union representatives had rejected an offer which would have seen drivers in Preston and Chorley offered "the highest hourly rates in Lancashire".

'Pay offer rejected'

According to Unite, Arriva drivers in Birkenhead earn £2.69 an hour more than Birkenhead Stagecoach drivers and £2.13 an hour more than Stagecoach drivers in Chorley and Preston.

Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Stagecoach can well afford to put forward an offer that tackles the unfair pay disparities that exist not only between different companies but different garages at the same firm.

"Unite will be providing maximum support to our Stagecoach members at Birkenhead, Chorley and Preston."

Matt Davies, managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire said: "Trade union representatives have rejected our offer of a 3.2% pay rise covering 12 months, with a further 3.2% from May next year.

"This would ensure that our Preston and Chorley sites continue to offer the highest hourly rates in Lancashire."

Mr Davies said Stagecoach was "keen" to hold further talks, and to avoid "damaging" industrial action.