Arriva's bus services in Bradford are likely to be disrupted today (June 6) amid strike action.
Hundreds of Arriva bus drivers and engineers across Yorkshire are on strike as part of a dispute over pay, threatening to affect services for an undisclosed period of time.
Members of Unite employed by Arriva staged an indefinite walkout from 2am.
The union said its 650 members voted overwhelmingly against a reported 4.1 per cent pay increase, describing it as far below the RPI inflation rate, which is now in double figures.
Why are bus drivers on strike today
Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva is part of a multi-billion company. It has no business demanding that workers get by on pitifully low pay so that its boardroom can get ever-richer. Arriva can easily afford to pay decently – it should do just that, or face industrial action.
“Unite’s members, like all workers, are being pummelled by the cost-of-living crisis – they cannot and will not accept a real-terms pay cut. Unite will be giving our members its full and total support until this dispute is resolved.”
Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “Strike action will inevitably cause significant disruption and delays for the Yorkshire travelling public, but this dispute is entirely of Arriva’s own making.
“Our members are already suffering from poverty pay and the company is trying to make the situation even worse.”
What has Arriva said about the pay strikes
Responding in a statement, Arriva's Gavin Peace said the suggestion that the strike follows a 4.1 per cent pay offer is "incorrect".
Mr Peace, area operations director for Arriva North East and Yorkshire, said: “This is incorrect. Arriva offered a substantially improved pay offer, which Unite are refusing to ballot their members on. This isn’t fair to our employees and communities across Yorkshire who want this issue resolved. The strike should be immediately suspended while Unite’s members vote on the fair and generous offer.”
He added: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite are pressing ahead with strike action for an indefinite period across services in Yorkshire.
"There is simply no justification for this action which will seriously inconvenience communities across Yorkshire, including students travelling for their GCSE exams.
"Arriva put forward a generous pay offer before the strike was called, yet the Union refused to put this offer to their own membership and are instead choosing to strike
"Unite the Union should immediately end this harmful strike and now put Arriva’s pay offer to their members in a ballot."
Which Bradford bus services are affected
Anyone hoping to catch an Arriva bus in Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region is unlikely to be served by regular service today.
No bus services are operating today in Yorkshire, Arriva said.
This means the following Arriva services in Bradford district are affected today:
- 268 Bradford to Wakefield
- 281/283 Birstall Retail Park or Bradford to Dewsbury
- 425/425A/427 Bradford to Wakefield
All Arriva pre-paid tickets will be accepted on First Bus & Transdev buses.
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