Hull: Stagecoach bus drivers begin strike action

Stagecoach drivers, cleaners and engineers will take strike action until 29 December, the union Unite says

Stagecoach bus drivers, cleaners and engineers have gone on strike in Hull in a dispute over pay.

The industrial action, which coincides with the start of Hull Fair, is set to last until 29 December, according to union Unite.

Stagecoach said drivers had been offered a 14.5% pay increase and would be the "highest paid in the region".

A Unite spokesperson said Stagecoach drivers in Merseyside were being paid more and the union wanted parity.

Strikers took to the street as part of their industrial action

Kris Allen, Unite branch secretary said: "We've been in pay negotiations since April, we have been going round and round and only offered small increments.

"I have people coming up to me on a daily basis saying they can't afford to live, people going to food banks.

"Basically since 2019 our wages have gone up 11p. People just can't afford to live anymore."

Stagecoach apologised to passengers and said it had put forward a number of pay offers, which had all been rejected by Unite.

It said: "The pay deal offered would make Hull drivers the highest paid in the region. The union has so far rejected an offer of 14.5% over two years; and an improved offer of 12.2% by December 2022, delivering a £12.50 pay rate."

Stagecoach said drivers had been offered a 14.5% pay increase

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said workers should be given a "proper pay rise"

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham joined the drivers on the picket line. She said: "These drivers are getting paid £11.14 an hour where comparable workers for the same company in Liverpool are given £14 an hour.

"Why should this be the case, why can't these workers be given a proper pay rise?"

Which services are affected?

The Park & Ride service for Hull Fair, which takes place from 7 October to 15 October, will run with service 22 from Priory Park running at frequent intervals between 17:00 BST and 21:00, service 21 from Humber Bridge running regularly between 17:00 and 20:00.

A return service from West Park will run from 17:30 during the fair.

The following services will operate up to every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 18:00 from Monday to Saturday, and up to every hour on Sundays between 09:00 and 18:00:

• Service 1 - Hull Interchange to Boothferry Estate

• Service 2 - Hull Interchange to Boothferry Estate

• Service 2 - Hull Interchange to North Bransholme

• Service 3 - Hull Interchange to Orchard Park

• Service 3 - Hull Interchange to Bilton Grange

• Service 4 - Hull Interchange to Bilton Grange

• Service 4 - Hull Interchange to Orchard Park

• Service 5 - Hull Interchange to Kingswood

• Service 6 - Hull Interchange to Kingswood

• Service 8 - Hull Interchange to Sutton Park/Bransholme

• Service 8 - Hull Interchange to Spring Cottage/Bransholme

• Service 12 - Hull Interchange to Bransholme

• Service 14 - Hull Interchange to Greatfield

The 250/450 service will operate as normal between Grimsby, Barton and Hull.

Drivers are out on strike in Hull city centre

Stagecoach said the 350 service is expected to run as usual but asked passengers to check Twitter for daily updates.

The following 255/355 services will run:

• 04:30 BST North Bransholme to WREN, with three buses

• 05:20 BST North Bransholme to WREN

• 07:10 BST North Bransholme to WREN

• 13:35 BST Hull Interchange to WREN

• 14:50 BST WREN to Bransholme, with two buses

• 17:10 BST WREN to North Bransholme, with two buses

• 17:10 BST WREN to Scunthorpe (Service 355)

The following 255/355 journeys will not run:

• 04:55 BST Scunthorpe to WREN ( Service 355)

• 15:35 BST North Bransholme to WREN

• 17:05 BST Hull Interchange to WREN

• 22:35 BST Hull Interchange to WREN

• 03:45 BST WREN to North Bransholme

• 03:45 BST WREN to Scunthorpe (Service 355)

• 05:45 BST WREN to North Bransholme

• 07:20 BST WREN to Hull Interchange

• 08:50 BST WREN to Hull Interchange

• 17:50 BST WREN to North Bransholme

• 23:20 BST WREN to North Bransholme

The following school and college services will run:

• Wilberforce service 81 - 85

• The Marvel College MC1 - MC2

• Malet Lambert 17S

• Consortium C1/C2

These school services will be run by alternative operators:

• BG01 Wawne to Beverley Grammar School will be operated by Ellie Rose Travel

• 7DR Sledmere to Driffield School will be operated by Acklams Coaches

• HW9 Broomfleet to Howden School, the morning journey will be operated by Thornes Independent and the afternoon journey will be operated by Acklams Coaches