Bus passengers are being warned to expect disruption after engineers employed by Go North East announced strike action in the week before Christmas.
The 150 engineers have rejected a 10% pay increase, which they say is a real terms pay cut with the true inflation rate (RPI) standing at 14.2%. The engineers will begin strike action on Monday, December 19, with the dispute ending on the morning of Sunday, December 25.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Go Ahead is an extremely wealthy company that can fully afford to pay its workers a fair pay increase. Its failure to do so is all about boosting its profits and not about affordability. Our members at Go North East will receive Unite’s unflagging support."
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The union says the strike action will cause considerable disruption to Go North East’s services as the engineers are responsible for ensuring the buses are roadworthy. It will effect bus routes operating from depots in Consett, Dunston, Gateshead, Hexham, North Shields, Sunderland and Washington.
Unite regional officer Dave Telford added: "The strike action will inevitably cause delays, disruption and cancellation of services, but this dispute is of Go North East’s own making, it has had ample opportunity to resolve this dispute but has chosen not to do so.
"Go North East need to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer which meets members’ expectations."
Go North East says that to avoid any impact on the passengers who depend on its services, contingency measures will be in place and its "comprehensive network of bus services will continue to operate as usual".
The firm says that in the summer, it offered a 10% pay increase to all its staff. In September, Unite accepted this for the 1,270 drivers it represents and the union has now decided to pursue increases of between 19% and 25% for engineers, according to the company.
Managing director Nigel Featham said: "The company is in a loss-making position. Even so, we have been prepared to increase wages - but the 19% and 25% wage awards Unite are seeking are simply not an option. Taking strike action in these circumstances achieves nothing; we need Unite to work with us to secure everyone’s future."
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