Go North East bus strike skeleton service launched

Bus drivers at Go North East walked out in October

A "skeleton" bus service has begun operating along some routes hit by an indefinite drivers' strike over pay.

Go North East workers walked out in October bringing most of the firm's fleet to a standstill.

The operator said it was "aiming to restore" a service on "as many routes as possible", with managers and office workers stepping in from Tuesday.

Union Unite said the firm was "grasping at straws" and called for "a reasonable new offer" to end the dispute.

It comes as further talks to end the strikes broke down again on Tuesday after Go North East failed to increase its pay offer, the union said.

Despite industrial action, Go North East said it had continued to run all school services and some contracted services.

It said its backroom staff with licences to drive buses would operate some services, alongside regular drivers who it said had "opted to return to work" to keep essential services moving.

Passengers have been warned of delays, with the company adding: "We apologise for the disruption during this time, and we remain committed to reaching a solution that will bring an end to the industrial action."

It confirmed 13 routes, which are listed on its website, will operate between 09:30 and 14:30 GMT and include parts of Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.

Some services in North Tyneside are also running, as well as early-morning and late afternoon routes linking Newcastle and Team Valley Trading Estate in Gateshead.

Northumberland County Council has arranged some external companies to operate a limited service in the Hexham area, the firm added.

'Demanding responsibility'

Go North East said its pay offer of 10.3% this year, followed by an above-inflation rise next year, was "unprecedented" and would mean staff were paid £14.15 per hour.

The union claimed the offer would leave workers, who were currently paid £12.83 an hour, on an inferior rate than colleagues at Go North West, who were currently paid £15.53.

It is not uncommon for staff who hold bus driving licences to get services out during industrial action, as seen in Sunderland in 2022 when GMB workers at Stagecoach North East walked out.

But Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Asking office workers to operate bus services is at best unwise and at worst unsafe as the drivers will be utterly unused to undertaking the highly demanding responsibility of driving a crowded bus on congested roads.

"Unite also has concerns about the maintenance of the buses themselves given our engineer members are on strike.

"Instead of playing games and scraping barrels, Go North East should come up with a reasonable new offer our members can accept and bring this dispute to an end."

Unite has urged the bus operator to improve its pay offer, adding it was willing to continue the negotiations "at any time".