Yorkshire Arriva bus workers to vote on strike action over pay

Hundreds of workers at Arriva in North and West Yorkshire will be balloted over strike action, Unite says

More than 650 bus workers in Yorkshire will be balloted on strike action in a dispute over an "unacceptable pay cut", a union has said.

Members of Unite working for Arriva in North and West Yorkshire will decide whether to launch industrial action.

A 4.1% pay rise being offered by Arriva was less than half the current RPI inflation rate and many staff were struggling, the union said.

Arriva said it "remained keen" to reach an agreement with Unite.

Balloted workers would include bus drivers and engineers in Castleford, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike and Wakefield in West Yorkshire, and Selby in North Yorkshire, Unite said.

The ballot was expected to close on 23 May and if there was a vote in favour, industrial action could begin in early June, it added.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This offer is a pay cut and is unacceptable to Unite.

"Arriva has to think again and come back with an offer that fully reflects this cost of living crisis."

Gavin Peace, from Arriva Yorkshire, said the bus company understood concerns about the rising cost of living, but added it was important that pay offers were affordable and reflected the economic pressures also faced by the bus sector.

"Any strike action would needlessly undermine bus travel and cause disruption to the customers and communities we serve," he said.

"We remain keen to reach an agreement with Unite and continue to work towards this. We are aware the union wish to continue discussion and would encourage them to work with us to find a way forward."