There will be no Arriva buses running anywhere in Merseyside next week.
Workers for the bus company have been on strike since Wednesday, July 20, after talks between Arriva and the Unite and GMB unions failed to reach an agreement over pay. The bus company has confirmed that while workers strike, no services will be able to run across the region.
Arriva North West told the ECHO that the industrial action has not yet been resolved. They confirmed that there isn't a date for services to resume and that the cancellations are set to run into next week beginning July 25.
READ MORE: I cancelled the papers & the milkman and then killed my wife
A spokesperson for Arriva said: "We are disappointed for all our customers to confirm that the strike will be continuing into next week, with no date yet for services being resumed. We remain committed to getting our drivers back to work and buses back on the road as soon as possible. We once again ask the union to call off the action and let our people vote on the latest 8.5% pay offer."
During the industrial action there will be no planned Arriva bus services operating within Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Cheshire, except for local Macclesfield services which will all run with the exception of service 38. For the duration of the industrial action journey planning in the north west region on the Arriva website and Arriva UK Bus App will be disabled. Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets travelling in Cheshire will be able to use them on buses operated by D&G Buses.
Unite previously pointed out that the other operator mentioned was Stagecoach and that planned strikes with that company were only called off after an offer of over 11% pay deal was agreed. Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: "Arriva bus workers play a crucial role in keeping the North West moving.
"This dispute has been fermenting for years as bus drivers have seen their hard work taken for granted and rates of pay steadily eroded.
"Unite remains committed to resolving the dispute at the earliest possible opportunity and it will embark on fresh negotiations any time, any place and anywhere, provided Arriva is prepared to make an improved offer."
READ NEXT:
Drug ring boss found dead in prison with no explanation
No breakthrough as Arriva Merseyside strikes head into day three
Edwardian home filled with treasures including original Thomas Crapper toilet for sale
Mum's Homebase garden furniture randomly burst into flames and set house on fire
Pensioner bitten by 'pitbull' in attack leaving gaping wound
