A revised pay offer is now on the table
16:12, 26 Sep 2025Updated 17:02, 26 Sep 2025
A planned two-week long strike by bus drivers in Bristol is on hold after First Bus revised its pay offer – despite saying the last one would be final. Drivers at the city’s two biggest depots were set to walk out on Wednesday, October 1, and said they would strike for a fortnight, but that is now ‘suspended’ while drivers are balloted on the new offer, according to First.
Around 600 drivers with Unite Union staged a four-day strike earlier this month, in a dispute over how much of an agreed pay rise should be backdated to April 1. The strike saw three-quarters of the services from the two depots cancelled, with traffic congestion, long waits, full buses and eerily quiet evening streets across the city.
But now, Unite has confirmed it will put a revised offer to its members in a new ballot next week and – for now – the planned two-week walk out is suspended, while the votes are counted. First Bus boss Doug Claringbold had described the offer that was rejected and led to the strike last week as the ‘full and final offer’, but now confirmed that after negotiations with ACAS this week, a revised offer was made.
Bristol Live understands First Bus had increased the amount of the pay rise that would be backdated to April 1 from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, but it is unclear whether this is the offer that drivers will now be balloted on.
The ballot means the strike that was due to start on Wednesday next week, October 1, won’t now happen until next Sunday, October 5, and won’t happen at all if the ballot of drivers early next week shows drivers accepting the new deal.
In a statement, Mr Claringbold welcomed the suspension of the strike. “We welcome today’s announcement from Unite the Union that planned strike action in Bristol has been suspended while union members are balloted on our offer,” he said.
READ MORE: The ‘unusual’ reason why Bristol bus drivers are on strikeREAD MORE: Pressure on First bosses as Bristol bus strike ends – but longer strike planned next month
“The action has been suspended up to and including October 5, with any action after that date being subject to the outcome of the ballot next week,” he said.
“We recognise the frustration and inconvenience that strikes cause our customers and we want to avoid further action. We continue to urge the union to work with us to deliver a resolution acceptable to all parties,” he added.
The strikes saw hundreds of drivers walk out at the two depots at Lawrence Hill and Hengrove. Just under half the CityLine routes were cancelled altogether and the remainder had a much-reduced service, with only two still running after 7pm.
Striking First Bus drivers rally in Bristol city centre Friday 19 September 2025 on the fourth day of industrial action(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The drivers continued their strike for four days, culminating in a rally at The Centre last Friday. Now, with a week of talks through the conciliation service ACAS, First improved its ‘full and final offer’, and that is now to be voted on by the drivers.
Unite’s regional officer Amy Roberts confirmed: “Following a meeting between Unite, the company and Acas, a revised pay offer was put on the table. We have suspended strike action to allow members to vote on this.”