Yorkshire Arriva bus drivers strike suspended after new pay offer

Unite says its members want an "inflation-related pay increase of around 10%"

A long-running strike by Arriva bus workers across parts of Yorkshire is to be suspended after a new pay offer was made.

The industrial action, which began on 6 June, will be paused from Saturday while union members are balloted on the fresh deal.

However, Unite regional officer Phil Bown warned the strike would resume if the offer was rejected by members.

Gavin Peace from Arriva described the agreement as "fantastic news".

"This has been an incredibly difficult four weeks and I apologise for the distress industrial action has caused," he said.

About 650 bus workers across Yorkshire walked out after rejecting an initial offer of a 4% pay rise.

The Unite union had previously said some drivers were being forced to use food banks and its members were seeking an "inflation-related pay increase of around 10%".

Arriva made an increased offer of between 8% and 12%, depending on the worker's grade, which the company described as "very fair".

There are no details of the new "improved offer".

'Great relief'

The walkout affected services across West Yorkshire as well as parts of North, South and East Yorkshire, with around 300 buses off the road across 132 routes.

Mr Bown said: "Arriva has come forward with an offer which our members will now be balloted on. While the ballot is being undertaken and as an act of goodwill Unite has suspended its strike action."

Responding to the suspension, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said she was "relieved" the two sides had reached an agreement.

"I'm sure that this news will also come as a great relief to the thousands of people who use and rely on Arriva services to get to and from work and education every day," she said.

"I hope we can now see services return to normal as quickly as possible from Saturday 2 July."