Five days of action in September are confirmed after Unite rejects pay deal, with further strikes planned later in the month.
(Image: Adrian Hancu via Getty Images)
Bristol Live readers are frustrated to hear that bus services across Bristol are set for major disruption after more than 1,000 First West of England drivers voted to strike. Unite has confirmed staff at depots in Bristol, Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Wells will take “highly disruptive action as children return to school.”
The walkouts will affect services run from Bristol Bus Station, Lawrence Hill and Hengrove, which cover inner-city routes, Bristol Airport, universities and Amazon’s Bristol warehouse. Depots in Bath, Wells and Weston-super-Mare are also involved.
An initial five-day strike has been called from September 4 to 8, with further action planned for September 16 to 19.
The dispute follows Unite members rejecting a two-year pay deal which included an extra £1 per hour until March 2026, followed by just 30p from April 2026. New starters were offered an additional 50p, rising by 10p next April.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “First Group PLC can clearly afford to pay our members more, but are choosing to put profits over people. This dispute is entirely of First Group’s own making and any disruption could be easily avoided. Our members will have Unite’s complete support.”
Regional officer Amy Roberts added: “While the situation will be frustrating for passengers, our members have no choice but to take industrial action to make their voices heard. First West of England could still stop this disruption by coming back to the table with a meaningful pay offer.”
Commenter Archie14 says: “This is why people don’t get public transport, unreliable, better off taking the car!”
Pioneer2508 asks: “How does striking for decent pay make the service unreliable? Do you know how many bus journeys are made daily around Bristol with no issues? Do you know just what a bus driver goes through daily?”
BS8GR8 retorts: “Public transport, especially buses can be unreliable as the roads are frequently clogged up with cars. Thankfully greater provision of bus lanes is improving reliability and reducing the need to use a car in much of Bristol. Bus Drivers in Bristol are hard working, often abused by passengers and aggressive car drivers and absolutely deserve a decent pay rise helping to retain existing staff and attract new drivers as the network expands.”
Bbski asks: “What exactly is the pay offer? I have a great deal of sympathy with the drivers, bus lanes are welcome, but some of the normal routes are hell with vehicles parked on corners and some junctions demonstrate that the person who designed them has no idea of the size and weight of a bus.”
Bristol_Girl says sarcastically: “It all certainly makes me look forward to more liveable neighbourhoods, closing roads to cars and of course the long awaited arena built in the middle of nowhere that we’ll all be bussed too – fabulous progress!”
Junius thinks: “If First Bus is making sufficient profits, they should look to pay drivers better. What is the reward gap between top bosses, shareholders and drivers at the bottom? We won’t know because First Bus accounts aren’t transparent. First Bus receives substantial subsidies from central and regional governments, aiding their profit accumulation. Trams for the region would prevent all eggs for road based public transport being put in one basket.”
Gaslady complains: “And they expect people to back them! Two friends are going away for a few days, they have bought their bus and train tickets. Now they have to drive, and they just said on the TV the roads are choc a bloc.”
Fluffball retorts: “Oh dear, what a pity, never mind! Bus drivers deserve better pay, safety and conditions!”
MDRose thinks: “Nationalise it, take profits out of the equation and return the service to the ultimate aim. Privatisation was a huge mistake by Thatcher, time to put it right.”
Has the bus strike hit your commute? Do you think the drivers are right to walk out? Have your say in our comments section.