Hundreds of Arriva bus workers have entered their 17th day of strike action, leaving commuters with limited access to both bus and train services on Wednesday.
Bus drivers and engineers staged an indefinite walkout on Monday, June 6, amid calls for a pay rise matching inflation.
Unite has rejected and refused to ballot members on two new offers so far.
Workers from Bradford are back out at the picket line in Dewsbury today, alongside colleagues from across West Yorkshire.
Here's everything you need to know about the bus strikes and the full list of services running in Bradford and West Yorkshire today.
Unite Community Huddersfield, Bradford and Leeds & Wakefield members are out today in Dewsbury talking to people about why Arriva bus workers are on strike. Support for the strikers is strong. Our members deserve fair pay. #PayUpArriva pic.twitter.com/0PxSlTrPcl
— Unite - North East, Yorkshire and Humber (@UniteNEYH) June 22, 2022
Is the Arriva bus strike still on?
Some of Arriva's school bus services have been reinstated, but most of the company's routes in Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield remain affected due to the strike.
Many of the reinstated bus routes are due to students participating in GCSE exams.
The following services in Bradford, Leeds, Halifax, Batley and Birstall have returned:
- C36 Halifax – Brooksbank School
- C49 Bank Top – Brighouse High
- GC1 Waterloo – Greenhead College
- HG1 Heckmondwike Grammar – Morley
- JF1 Drighlington – St John Fisher
- K65 Waterloo – All Saints College
- K78 Grange Moor – King James’s
- K81 Colne Bridge – King James’s
- NH1 Brighouse – North Halifax Grammar
- TA3 Shroggs Road – Trinity Academy
- WA1 East Ardsley /Thorpe - Woodkirk Academy
- WA2 Batley – Woodkirk Academy
- WM1 Heckmondwike – Whitcliffe Mount
- WM2 Whitcliffe Mount – Birstall
These services will operate to normal timetables but won't be shown on journey planners.
All other services are still suspended. No fare will be charged on these services operated by Arriva.
Industrial action affecting Arriva bus services until further notice and planned national rail industrial action on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June. pic.twitter.com/5uLyMmXLgX
— Connecting Leeds Travel Info (@LeedsTravelInfo) June 21, 2022
Arriva bus strikes latest
Strike action was taken after 650 members of Unite 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.
One bus driver shared his view from the picket line at Arriva Heckmondwike.
"We're currently on strike fighting for a decent pay increase that's matching inflation," he told Unite.
"We get paid on a Friday, but we have people now that are saying to us that 'I get paid on the Friday, come Wednesday and Thursday, I'm running out of money'."
Arriva has now made another pay offer, representing an increase between 8.2 per cent and 12.7 per cent.
It raises the top rate to £13.15 per hour as well as increasing back pay.
The offer came after a rejected pay rise between seven and 12.5 per cent.
In the latest statement, Arriva said: "We were hopeful talks would lead to a positive outcome and the ending of strike action across Yorkshire.
"However, we’re extremely disappointed at Unite's ongoing decision to not ballot their members on this offer.
"Our customers will no doubt share this frustration as strikes will continue to have a negative impact on our communities.
"We repeat our call for the strike to be suspended and for the union to take our offer to our employees so that communities can access vital bus services."
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