HUNDREDS of Stagecoach drivers are to be balloted for strike action over a pay dispute, a union has confirmed.
Unite the Union said that 99% of its members rejected a pay offer of a 4% increase in one year by Stagecoach West Scotland.
The union added that the current pay offer would leave workers one of the poorest paid across Stagecoach’s UK operations.
In a previous ballot, the 500 west coast union drivers overwhelmingly voted in favour of taking industrial action, including strike action, to secure a better wage deal.
The ballot on industrial action opens on Monday and closes on April 17, with strikes likely to start in early May if a mandate is secured, the union has said.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham (below) has warned that any strikes will be down to Stagecoach bosses putting “profits before people”.
She said: “Stagecoach West Scotland is a profitable company making money on the back of our members’ hard work and long hours. The company can easily afford to put forward a fairer offer.
“If they don’t quickly change direction, then any strike action impacting bus services will be due to them putting profits before people.”
Stagecoach West Scotland services operate out of several depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, Dumfries, Kilmarnock and Stranraer servicing passengers across bus routes in Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.
The company which trades under the name Western Buses Limited made a profit after tax of £2.99 million in 2024 up from £1.3m in 2023.
The company’s revenues also increased to £59.7m up from £50.9m over the same period.
Unite said it believes the current pay offer is “unacceptable” on the back of the company significantly increasing its profits over the last year.
Siobhan McCready, Unite industrial officer, said being a bus driver is not an easy job and that pay rise reflects the responsibilities and challenges of the role
“Stagecoach West Scotland drivers deserve a fair rise that brings them in line with other parts of the business across the UK,” she said.
“The drivers are on one of the lowest rates of pay across the whole Stagecoach group.
“This is not an easy job, and the drivers deserve a pay rise reflecting the responsibilities and challenges of the role. If there is no movement on pay, then strike action will be inevitable and that will be on the heads of the company.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach West Scotland said: "We can confirm that pay discussions are currently ongoing with Unite and therefore we believe it is inappropriate to comment further at this stage during the process."
