Unite the union has confirmed that Bidvest Noonan workers contracted to clean and refuel buses for First Bus in Glasgow and Aberdeen are set to strike in a dispute over pay.
More than 100 cleaners, fuellers and shunters contracted to work in First Glasgow and First Aberdeen bus depots are striking after previously rejecting a 2% pay offer backdated to 2022 at a time when RPI inflation has hit 13.4%.
Wages at the company start at £9.62 per hour, far below the £10.42 per hour that will be the national minimum wage from April.
Bidvest Noonan made a profit of £9.5m for the year ending June 2022, up from £5.96m in year ending June 2021.
According to Unite, with cleaning, refuelling and re-charging of the electric buses not carried out on the days of industrial action, buses across both Glasgow and Aberdeen may have to be taken off the roads for safety and re-charging reasons.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Bidvest Noonan’s pay offer is totally unacceptable, this company is making millions and can well afford to pay fairly; it has no excuse for not doing so.
“Quite simply, these buses couldn’t operate without our members who have Unite’s full support as they stand up for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The strike action will take place at the Glasgow and Aberdeen depots from 1 to 4 March. It will then recommence at the Aberdeen depot from 8 to 11 March.
The contract workers in both cities were outsourced by First Bus in Glasgow in 2016, and then December 2020 in Aberdeen.
A First Bus Scotland spokesman said: "We understand Bidvest Noonan workers have been balloted in relation to strike action.
"First Bus is assisting Bidvest Noonan to find an agreement that is mutually beneficial to all."
The bus depots to be impacted by strike action are:
- 395 King Street, Aberdeen.
- 5 Glasgow Road, Blantyre.
- 100 Cathcart Road, Glasgow.
- 1073 South Street, Glasgow.
- Birch Meadow, Dumbarton.
- 5 Castlehill Road, Wishaw.
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