Leeds faces more bus strikes this Friday and next Monday

BUS crews in Leeds will stage two more 24-hour strikes this week and next as part of a long-running pay dispute with the operator, First.
Bus drivers on the picket line at Hunslet Park during one of last month's strikes.Bus drivers on the picket line at Hunslet Park during one of last month's strikes.
Bus drivers on the picket line at Hunslet Park during one of last month's strikes.

Members of the Unite union working at First will walk out for 24 hours from 2am this Friday, July 8.

A second stoppage is due to follow from 4am to 10am next Monday, July 11.

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Around 1,000 bus drivers and other staff at First’s Bramley and Hunslet Park depots staged two 24-hour strikes last month.

First was only able to run about 20 per cent of its normal services during the walkouts.

The firm’s managing director in Leeds, Paul Matthews, attended a Unite branch meeting in the city last night in the hope of averting further strike action but it ended without an agreement being reached.

Mr Matthews said today: “To try and bring this dispute to an end we’ve offered a revised deal, again providing a substantial pay increase way above inflation, that Unite have refused to put to all drivers for their consideration.

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“Yet again this will mean our customers will suffer because of this unnecessary action by Unite.

“I will continue to do all I can to resolve the dispute but I won’t be forced to introduce a pay increase which the company cannot afford and would push fares up for customers.”

First Bus services in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax will be unaffected by the strikes.

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