Go North East strike: Engineers walk out week before Christmas

Go North East has been warned by Unite it faces "considerable" disruption

About 150 bus engineers are due to go on strike over Christmas, potentially causing disruption for thousands of travellers in the North East.

Engineers from bus operator Go North East will walk out from Monday, 19 December until Sunday, 25 December.

It will coincide with strike action on Stagecoach buses in Sunderland.

Go North East said it had put contingency measures in place and believed its services would operate as usual.

Union Unite confirmed engineers had rejected a 10% pay increase, claiming it was a real terms pay cut.

It comes days after it was announced Stagecoach North East workers would also be striking for a further four days over Christmas, also over pay.

Unite said the strikes would affect services operated by depots in Consett, Dunston, Gateshead, Hexham, North Shields, Sunderland and Washington.

It said the action would cause considerable disruption as engineers were responsible for ensuring buses were roadworthy.

The engineers will walk out from 19 to 25 December

Dave Telford, regional officer at Unite, said the planned strike action would "send a message" to Go North East.

Mr Telford said without engineers, buses would not be able to go on the road, potentially affecting hundreds of bus services each day.

He said: "We don't want to be doing that, we regret that, but if we have no other option, the employer won't return to the table with an improved offer, members will be left with no option but to strike."

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, added: "Go Ahead is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase.

"Its failure to do so is all about boosting its profits and not about affordability."

'Further job losses'

Go North East said bus services would continue to operate as usual.

Company director Nigel Featham said Go North East was in a "loss-making position", adding strike action would "achieve nothing".

He said: "The company is in a loss-making position. Even so, we have been prepared to increase wages - but the 19% and 25% wage awards Unite are seeking are simply not an option.

"Taking strike action in these circumstances achieves nothing - we need Unite to work with us to secure everyone's future."