Now Leeds faces indefinite bus strike from next Tuesday

The union Unite said 1,000 of its members employed by First West Yorkshire will walk out that day, after suspending a strike planned for last week.

No time or date set has been set for an end to the action.

The union accused the management of taking an “extremely aggressive” stance by sacking a Unite branch secretary and two other workers.

Unite is embroiled in a series of industrial disputes involving bus workers employed by the First Group in Glasgow, Weymouth and across Yorkshire.

Next week’s strike follows three 24-hour walkouts at First since the middle of last month, each of which caused widespread disruption for bus users in Leeds.

Unite regional officer Phil Bown said today: “The atmosphere has badly deteriorated as the management has started to attack our members for carrying out legitimate trade union activity.

“So far, three people, including the Unite branch secretary, have been dismissed and 11 others have been given final written warnings.

“We are calling for the immediate reinstatement of the dismissed colleagues and the rescinding of the final written warnings, otherwise these cases will end up before an employment tribunal.

“The management needs to stop ducking and diving and commit to holding genuine and meaningful talks, otherwise this strike could go on for some time with an adverse impact for bus users in Leeds – something we have desperately sought to avoid.”

First, which is the biggest bus operator in Leeds, has said it wants to reach a pay settlement with its drivers that is “both affordable and recognises the hard work they do”.