Bus drivers agree to halt strike for a week

With just hours to go before crews were due to walk out, Bradford's biggest bus company was still in meetings with union officials about their claims.

Bus firm First had asked the Transport and General Workers Union to defer action for a week to allow negotiations to continue.

And both sides are understood to be basically in agreement over a pay offer made by the company.

This morning's last-ditch negotiations were over work schedules and progression to higher pay rates.

Managing director Jonathan May said yesterday the company had made a substantial offer to the crews who had voted to go on indefinite strike.

The union's regional industrial organiser Phil Bown said they had agreed to defer the indefinite stoppage for seven days to allow negotiations to carry on.

He said: "We have agreed to extend the deadlines. What happens now depends on these remaining issues."

About 400 drivers may take part in any strike action, which could affect thousands of journeys.

The company also has a contract to operate journeys to and from some schools.

First is responsible for three quarters of Bradford's bus services but other operators including Arriva and Keighley & District Travel are not affected by the dispute.

The union claims it has 100 per cent membership among First drivers and it is understood 93 per cent of them voted in favour of an indefinite strike.

The crews want an end to a three-tier pay system where drivers start on a £5.77 an hour training rate which increases to £7 an hour on qualification and then £8.24 for the most experienced drivers.

The union claimed new work rosters started by the company in January had worsened the drivers' terms and conditions.

In autumn 2000, First drivers staged a series of strikes about their pay offer and structure, which meant workers with long service earned far more than newcomers.

A spokesman from First said they had no comment at this stage.

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