Alec Thraves, Swansea Trades Council and Socialist Party
After eight days of strike action over several weeks, bus workers across South West Wales in Unite the Union have voted to accept an improved pay offer from First Cymru. Their pay and conditions are among the worst in the transport industry.
Whilst still short of the pay parity members were seeking, the strength and numbers turning out on the early morning picket lines and the massive disruption to travel have forced First Cymru to not just improve the pay offer, but also backdate the pay award, which was a major sticking point in reaching an agreement.
In addressing a meeting of Swansea Trades Council, the Unite branch secretary and his colleagues were adamant that, without the determined and solid strike action taken, this improved deal would not have been reached. It has strengthened the union branch, with some non-members also signing up to the union in preparation for the inevitable future struggles to get pay and conditions parity from First Cymru.
The union reps thanked Trades Council members for their support on every picket line during the dispute.
