Bus drivers strike over pay

South Yorkshire bus drivers, members of Unite the union, took strike action on 18 and 21 November. Many pickets were out all day on both days at the Barnsley and Rawmarsh (Rotherham) depots.

The 340 Stagecoach drivers, currently on £8.57 an hour, are fighting for a £9 an hour pay rate, to bring them in line with Stagecoach drivers in Sheffield.

The new deal should have started in April but negotiations have dragged on and on.

In fact, Unite branch secretary Harry Foss told me: "The manager here (Rawmarsh) doesn't negotiate. He just says take it or leave it! We were even willing to forgo our back pay to help fund £9 an hour but then he insisted on a two-year deal. With at least 5% inflation, we'd have fallen further behind again."

A strong mood on the picket line was reinforced by loads of honking horns in support on a busy main road.

More strikes are planned for 2 and 3 December if the company doesn't agree to £9 an hour in a one year deal.

Alistair Tice

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