After union members rejected an Arriva salary offer, North West bus drivers will keep striking.
The proposal was rejected by more than 75 percent of Arriva North West drivers, which means the ongoing strikes will continue tomorrow.
Since July 20, drivers and employees have gone on strike in support of a more equitable wage accord. The strike will continue until all sides come to an agreement.
Arriva bus strike: New salary offer rejected
Following the rejection of a new compensation offer, bus drivers throughout the whole region will continue to strike.
After initiating an indefinite walkout on July 20, employees at Arriva North West have been off the job for four weeks.
Union members previously approved a superior offer from Arriva, which increased pay by 8.5%.
According to the GMB Union, however, more than 75% of drivers chose to reject the agreement and prolong the strike.
Are arriva buses still on strike?
The proposal was rejected by more than 75 percent of Arriva North West drivers, which means the ongoing strikes will continue tomorrow.
Since July 20, drivers and employees have gone on strike in support of a more equitable wage accord. The strike will continue until all sides come to an agreement.
There haven’t been any Arriva buses available in Merseyside at all throughout that time.
The worst cost of living crisis that has affected working people in a generation, according to GMB regional organizer George Patterson. To help them get through it, these drivers are asking for a fair pay increase.
“We require better service from Arriva. Bus drivers need to feel confident that they can pay their bills.
“We won’t give up until our members receive the respectable wage they deserve.”
Following today’s re-convened wage negotiations, Arriva has presented an improved offer that has allowed UNITE the Union and GMB to ballot members on this offer, according to a statement on the company website that was published on August 12. The election will be held on August 15 and 16, 2022, respectively.
“All parties are putting in a lot of effort to end the strike at a company,”
Statement by the Union
The new offer in a dispute with Arriva North West (ANW) buses, according to the union GMB, has been “overwhelmingly” rejected.
In a dispute over pay and conditions, more than 1,800 drivers in Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cheshire have engaged in strike action.
Nearly a month after the workforce walked out, ANW offered an enhanced salary offer in the hopes that the strike would be called off.
On Tuesday, August 16, GMB announced that more than 75% of its drivers had chosen to reject the agreement and prolong the strike.
The union claims that in light of rising costs and the crisis in the cost of living, the offer is inadequate.
George Patterson, the GMB regional organizer, said: “Working people are facing the worst cost of living crisis for a generation.
“These drivers are fighting for a fair pay rise to help them through it. We need something better from Arriva. Bus drivers need to know that they’ll be able to cover their bills.
“We won’t stop fighting for our members to get the decent pay they deserve.”
Metro Mayor visits Arriva bus picket
As the outcome of a crucial vote on the industrial action is anticipated, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram stopped by an Arriva picket line today.
Mayor Rotheram joined the picket line of bus drivers in Bootle’s Hawthorne Road. There have been no Arriva buses anywhere in Merseyside for the 28th day in a row as a result of walk-outs.
The mayor’s visit follows a letter he and other regional officials sent to Arriva executives asking them to propose a wage raise that will end the conflict. Arriva announced on Friday that it has submitted a salary proposal for the Unite and GMB unions to present to their members, in the hopes that this week would see the return of its buses to the road.
Mayor Rotheram described his visit to the picket line at the Hawthorne Road bus depot in Bootle in a tweet, writing: “Went to visit the picket line at the Hawthorne Road bus depot this morning to hear from Arriva drivers and discuss the dispute and latest wage offer. I also discussed my efforts to re-govern our buses and the difference it will make to the people who ride them.
On the same day, as the results of the member election are anticipated, the mayor makes a picket visit. Although Arriva expressed optimism that a yes vote on its most recent proposal will result in buses returning tomorrow, bus drivers told the ECHO that a yes vote is by no means a given.
On Friday, a representative for Arriva stated: “Following today’s reconvened pay negotiations, Arriva has offered an improved offer, allowing Unite the Union and GMB to conduct a ballot among their members. The election will be held on August 15 and 16, 2022, respectively.
“All sides are putting up a lot of effort to end the strike in order to start work on Wednesday, August 17. Since more than three weeks ago, there have been no Arriva services in Merseyside due to the ongoing strike over driver pay.”
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A number of disputes, including the Arriva one, have led to strike action in the area. Additionally, the RMT and ASLEF train unions have organized rail strikes, and post office workers have also gone on strike. This week, contract employees at the Disclosure and Barring Service in Liverpool are participating in a six-day walkout and picket of the Tithebarn Street offices.
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