Those needing the bus to travel to work, school, college, appointments, or even just out for the day, may struggle today as strikes have started in Leeds.
Planned industrial action is taking place and 800 workers are understood to have walked out. Bus users can expect a limited service as 39 routes are not running and other services are expected to be delayed or run less frequently.
Images and videos shared across social media show workers on the picket lines this morning (June 19). Staff are striking over First West Yorkshire's refusal to move the pay anniversary date back to normal.
Read more: Devastated girlfriend spoke to Leeds United fan minutes before he was killed in Vegas stag do
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "When First West Yorkshire needed its drivers to dig deep for the company, they did. Not only did they put their and their families’ health on the line by continuing to drive First buses, they also agreed to delay getting a pay rise.
"First Group have taken advantage of this sacrifice to keep their drivers’ wages down as inflation has rocketed. Our members are absolutely right to strike at what is essentially a stab in the back by First West Yorkshire and they will receive Unite’s total support."
Andrew Cullen, Managing Director of First North & West Yorkshire: "We are disappointed in the decision of UNITE to announce strike action. The current agreement on pay, which was signed by UNITE and its officials, is in place and agreed until October 2023.
"The management team at First North & West Yorkshire have been working hard to find solutions to help our valued drivers during these tough economic times and have made a series of substantial and unconditional offers to satisfy demands. These remain on the table and have yet to be put to our Leeds drivers by the UNITE representatives, therefore the union’s efforts should focus on this and not on industrial action while collective bargaining continues.
"The First North and West Yorkshire team is ready and willing to meet and we encourage Unite to join us so we can finalise a settlement and help our drivers to manage the continuing pressure on the cost of living that everyone is facing as quickly as possible."
Services not running or disrupted:
- 1B
- N1
- 2 - disrupted until midday
- 4F
- 7A and 7S
- 9A
- 11A
- 12 - disrupted until midday and partly running
13 - disrupted until midday and partly running
13A - disrupted until midday and partly running
12 and 13 - disrupted until midday and partly running
14
15
16A
19 and 19A
27
28
33
39
46
47 and 47A
49
50A
51
55 and 55C
62
65
74
75
X84
86
91
PR2
Flexi bus
Running but less frequently:
The following services will not be affected:
Read next:
