Bus drivers in Liverpool were on the brink of striking over claims they worked for much lower wages than peers at another company. The strike has since been called off, after bus company bosses agreed to higher wages for drivers. Balloting is now due to take place on whether they will accept that new offer.
Hundreds of bus drivers were planning to strike for four days from tomorrow. They were angry over claims that they are paid significantly less than drivers working with another company. They work for Stagecoach, which operates buses in many places.
The workers’ union, known as Unite, stated that the drivers would not walk out after Stagecoach revised their offer regarding pay. The company and the union have had positive discussions about the issue, Unite said, and now drivers will vote in order to accept the new deal offered.
Stagecoach the bus operator has said it is willing to have positive discussions with Unite. Apparently, a new offer has been made to resolve the issue and not let the strike happen.
According to the union Unite, nearly 500 drivers from Stagecoach were expected to go out on strike for four consecutive days. They had been due to strike on Friday — which would cause chaos in getting to school and work for people depending on the buses.
He also said that the reason for the strike was because drivers felt that they were paid thousands of pounds less than drivers who work for a different company. It made the Stagecoach drivers feel that they are being treated not-so-fairly. Because buses are the primary mode of transportation for most people in Liverpool, the news of the strike’s postponement was warmly received by the populace. If it had been pushed through, it may have interfered with commutes for people heading to work, school, or appointments. The bus firm and its drivers want to work out a solution that is agreeable and equitable for everyone with the chance of a new agreement.
The strike has been put on hold because of a new pay offer from Stagecoach. The drivers will now vote to decide whether they want to accept the new deal on their pay. This is a vote saying whether they are satisfied with the new offer and willing to finally stop the strike.
In summary, bus drivers in Liverpool were planning to strike due to the fact that they perceived themselves to be underpaid as compared to other drivers in another firm. Still, after Stagecoach came up with a new offer regarding their pay, the strike is put on hold. Now it will be left for the drivers to vote on whether or not they will accept the new deal and forget about the strike.