Bus drivers across Merseyside are set to strike next week.
Arriva drivers from depots in Liverpool, St Helens, Bootle, Speke and Southport will take industrial action beginning on July 20, if the company does not improve its pay offer. The Unite union that represents the drivers recently branded Arriva's most recent offer as "pitiful".
In a recent ballot, 96% of drivers voted in favour of striking, rejecting the most recent offer of three per cent with no strings attached, or six per cent with sick pay reductions and loss of enhanced Saturday pay.
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Arriva representatives have branded the action "unjustified", a spokesperson for the company said: "We urge Unite and GMB to work with us to agree a way forward, rather than moving the goalposts on a previously recommended pay deal which met the Union’s aspirations for their members."
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: "The forthcoming strike action is set to cause widespread disruption to bus services throughout the North West.
"However, this dispute is all about greed not need. Arriva could make its workers a decent offer but it chose not to. Even now strikes can be avoided if Arriva made an offer which meets members' expectations and returns to the negotiating table."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This dispute is entirely of Arriva's own making. It can fully afford to ensure its workers receive decent pay and conditions. Instead, Arriva has made our members a pitiful offer.
"Not only do they want workers to accept a real terms pay cut, they also want them to sacrifice their sick pay. This is just not acceptable. Unite will back these members to the hilt until this dispute is resolved and they receive a decent pay increase."
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