First Bradford bus drivers vote for strike action over wages

Unite said that strike dates among Bradford bus drivers could be announced soon after the workers voted for strike action by 77 per cent, following their rejection of a pay offer of 1.9 per cent from October 2021 and a further 1.8 per cent for the year from October 2022.

A total of 233 drivers from First West Yorkshire, based at the Bowling Back Lane site, voted in favour of strike action, with nine voting against, in the 14-day ballot which closed on February 1. A total of 311 people were entitled to vote.

No date has been set for any strike to take place, but the Telegraph & Argus understands the earliest start date could be February 17.

First West Yorkshire says it was disappointed with the result of the drivers' ballot, but added it will continue talks with union representatives to avert any potential industrial action in the city.

A new round of talks between the union and First West Yorkshire are due to take place on Wednesday, February 16.

The union said the pay offer was ‘out of touch with reality’, given the cost-of-living crisis which was further underlined by the £693 hike in average household energy bills from April.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “The offer to our members by the bosses at First West Yorkshire is truly pathetic given the looming scale of the cost-of-living crisis which will be a catastrophe for millions of working people.

We will be standing 100 per cent behind our members in Bradford in their fight for pay justice – the management is out of touch with reality

"They need to come forward with a decent pay offer that reflects the stressful work that our members do on a daily basis.”

Darren Rushworth, Unite regional officer, said: “Talks are due to be held with the company on February 16.

"We will enter into those talks in a constructive frame of mind.

"However, strike action remains very much on the cards if no progress is made.”

Tom Bridge, operations director of First West Yorkshire, said: “We are disappointed in the ballot result, but continue to be engaged in constructive talks with union representatives to find an agreement and avert any potential for industrial action.”

Meanwhile, a bus group for the region also warned First West Yorkshire is putting passengers and businesses at risk by 'skimping on essential pay rises'.

A group representative also warned without action more bus drivers in the district will leave their jobs.

Matthew Topham, campaigner at Better Buses for West Yorkshire, says when 'companies like First skimp on essential pay rises, they're putting passengers and businesses at risk'.

He said: "We are already living through the impacts of a driver shortage."

Mr Topham added there had been recent incidents where 'buses simply don't turn up' leaving passengers frustrated. 

He said: "We need public control as soon as possible so the public, not profit-hungry companies, set pay and conditions, guaranteeing enough drivers enter and remain in the industry to prevent shortages and ensure a reliable and safe service."

A number of strike actions have been called by First West Yorkshire Bradford bus drivers over recent years.

A planned Bradford bus strike was called off in February last year after an agreement was reached over drivers' safety concerns.

The strike action was announced in December 2020 in the face of what the Unite union slammed as "dangerously unsustainable" scheduling by First West Yorkshire.

Nearly 300 out of the 350 bus drivers at the Bowling Back Lane site entitled to vote, opted in favour of strike action in that ballot against the company’s refusal to restore schedules to pre-pandemic levels.