Bus strikes set to cause chaos for Stagecoach in Cambridge from next week
They have not had a salary increase for more than two-and-half-year
By Becca Field
They have not had a salary increase for more than two-and-half-year
By Becca Field
28 DEC 2021
Cambridge bus drivers have voted to strike in the first week of January potentially causing travel chaos in the city.
Cambus drivers, who have reportedly not had a pay rise since April 2019, are planning to hold 10 days of strike action next month, starting on Tuesday, January 4.
Union Unite has said its members – who are drivers, engineers, cleaners, and shunters - based at Cambridge, Fenstanton, and Peterborough deserve better.
The strikes in the New Year follow an ongoing row over their pay.
The workers employed by Cambus Ltd, which is part of Stagecoach, previously rejected a 1.5 per cent pay offer from April 2021 with a further 1.5 per cent next month for the pay year 2021/22 – at a time when the RPI rate of inflation has soared to six per cent.
However, Stagecoach claims there is “no reason why an agreement cannot be reached” and talks with the union are planned for next week.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “We will be standing 100 per cent behind our members at Cambus who have not had a pay rise since April 2019. They have suffered a dramatic cut in pay in real terms, especially as inflation has now reached a decade-high of 7.1 per cent and household bills have gone through the roof.
“Despite Stagecoach pleading poverty, the company remains extremely profitable with its latest accounts revealing the group made a profit of £58.4million. The company also has £875million in liquid assets.”
Unite regional officer Mark Plumb added: “Our members should not pay for the continuing pandemic, while the employer has readily scooped up UK taxpayer support, including cash from the furlough scheme. The 10 days of strike action will, unfortunately, cause travel chaos for bus users across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“However, there is now a window of opportunity for the management to come forward with a realistic pay offer for our members that reflects the fast-rising rate of inflation, otherwise the strikes will go ahead.”
The union has predicted the upcoming strikes will likely affect workers and leisure travellers throughout the county.
Darren Roe, managing director for Stagecoach East, said: “Stagecoach has reached agreements with Unite for thousands of employees covering the majority of our depots across the UK, and there is no reason why an agreement cannot be reached for our people in Cambridge, Fenstanton and Peterborough.
“We’re very proud of our team who do a fantastic job in delivering vital transport connections for local people. We are fully committed to working constructively with Unite to deliver pay proposals that are fair to our people, and which also ensure the long-term sustainability of the bus network for local communities at a time when passenger numbers are significantly below pre-Covid levels.
“We have further talks planned with Unite next week and remain hopeful an agreement can be reached with local union representatives to avoid strike action that will cause unnecessary disruption for our local communities and our own teams.
“We will keep our website updated with the latest information on our services and our planned timetables.”
Cambridge bus drivers have voted to strike in the first week of January potentially causing travel chaos in the city.
Cambus drivers, who have reportedly not had a pay rise since April 2019, are planning to hold 10 days of strike action next month, starting on Tuesday, January 4.
Union Unite has said its members – who are drivers, engineers, cleaners, and shunters - based at Cambridge, Fenstanton, and Peterborough deserve better.
The strikes in the New Year follow an ongoing row over their pay.
The workers employed by Cambus Ltd, which is part of Stagecoach, previously rejected a 1.5 per cent pay offer from April 2021 with a further 1.5 per cent next month for the pay year 2021/22 – at a time when the RPI rate of inflation has soared to six per cent.
However, Stagecoach claims there is “no reason why an agreement cannot be reached” and talks with the union are planned for next week.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “We will be standing 100 per cent behind our members at Cambus who have not had a pay rise since April 2019. They have suffered a dramatic cut in pay in real terms, especially as inflation has now reached a decade-high of 7.1 per cent and household bills have gone through the roof.
“Despite Stagecoach pleading poverty, the company remains extremely profitable with its latest accounts revealing the group made a profit of £58.4million. The company also has £875million in liquid assets.”
Unite regional officer Mark Plumb added: “Our members should not pay for the continuing pandemic, while the employer has readily scooped up UK taxpayer support, including cash from the furlough scheme. The 10 days of strike action will, unfortunately, cause travel chaos for bus users across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“However, there is now a window of opportunity for the management to come forward with a realistic pay offer for our members that reflects the fast-rising rate of inflation, otherwise the strikes will go ahead.”
The union has predicted the upcoming strikes will likely affect workers and leisure travellers throughout the county.
Darren Roe, managing director for Stagecoach East, said: “Stagecoach has reached agreements with Unite for thousands of employees covering the majority of our depots across the UK, and there is no reason why an agreement cannot be reached for our people in Cambridge, Fenstanton and Peterborough.
“We’re very proud of our team who do a fantastic job in delivering vital transport connections for local people. We are fully committed to working constructively with Unite to deliver pay proposals that are fair to our people, and which also ensure the long-term sustainability of the bus network for local communities at a time when passenger numbers are significantly below pre-Covid levels.
“We have further talks planned with Unite next week and remain hopeful an agreement can be reached with local union representatives to avoid strike action that will cause unnecessary disruption for our local communities and our own teams.
“We will keep our website updated with the latest information on our services and our planned timetables.”
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