First Bus drivers vote to strike in Glasgow

First Glasgow services will be affected for a week under strike plans

Drivers with the First Bus group in Glasgow have voted to take strike action.

More than 1,200 drivers voted to strike in a dispute over pay. The week-long action is due to begin on 24 November.

Their union, Unite, said 99% of those members who voted backed the strike, on a 77% turnout.

The drivers previously rejected a pay offer, saying it fell below the pay levels of other drivers across First Group's other UK operations.

FirstGroup is based in Aberdeen and operates bus and rail services throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The company more than doubled its profits to £82.1m in the last financial year.

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Unite confirmed the strike action is scheduled to begin at 04:00 on Friday 24 November and end at 03:59 on Friday 1 December.

Those drivers taking part are based at depots in Blantyre, Caledonia, Dumbarton, Overtown and Scotstoun.

The union's engineering members are also in dispute with the company, with around 150 staff scheduled to strike on 16 and 17 November.

Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said FirstGroup is a "very wealthy company" which could afford to meet the pay demands.

"We will support our First Bus drivers all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions," she said.

A spokesperson from First Bus confirmed the company had been notified of the industrial action "despite us making an offer which would see a pay rise of over 11%, well above the rate of inflation."

"In recent years, First Glasgow has heavily invested in electrifying its fleet as well as making significant pay awards. The investment has exceeded any profit made and has ensured we have a far more sustainable business for the future," they said.

"At First Bus, we look after our people and pay them a fair wage relative to the role they perform in the business. We have invested heavily in improving working conditions and enhanced benefits for our colleagues.

"We will be looking to continue discussions with union representatives in an attempt to reach a resolution."