First Bus Leeds confirms bus drivers to go on ‘indefinite strike’

First Bus confirmed today that their pay offer of 12 per cent to Unite union members at the Leeds depot has been rejected and stoppages will begin on Sunday, June 18.

Unite says that its members agreed during the pandemic to change their anniversary pay date to October to assist the company financially. But they have said the pay review should have returned to April and drivers should not have to wait until October to see it implemented.

Andrew Cullen, Managing Director of First North & West Yorkshire, said: “We are very disappointed and dismayed at the decision to continue with strike action in Leeds.

“The generous pay offer we made to the union of a 12 per cent increase between now and April next year is well above inflation and would have helped our drivers to manage the cost of living as quickly as possible.

“Part of this pay increase would have been implemented now with further rises in October and again in April 2024.

“The current agreement on pay, which was signed by Unite and its officials, is in place and agreed until October 2023. The anniversary date was changed during Covid in order to safeguard jobs and to enable us to offer an enhanced sick pay scheme during the pandemic.

“As part of our discussions, we listened to Unite’s request to return the anniversary date to April and as part of the offer we agreed to do this and therefore the next pay review date would be April 2025.”

He added: “Industrial action will be damaging to everyone and cause severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments.

“Industrial action is not the way forward to find a settlement.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “When First West Yorkshire needed its drivers to dig deep for the company, they did. Not only did they put their and their families’ health on the line by continuing to drive First buses, they also agreed to delay getting a pay rise.

“First Group have taken advantage of this sacrifice to keep their drivers’ wages down as inflation has rocketed. Our members are absolutely right to strike at what is essentially a stab in the back by First West Yorkshire and they will receive Unite’s total support.” Bus drivers had one of the highest mortality rates for workers who died from Covid19 during the pandemic, said Unite.

In March, said Unite, FirstGroup announced that its operating profits for 2023 are expected to be higher than the previously estimated £137.4 million. In 2022, the group brought in operating profits of £226.8 million.

The workers are based out of First West Yorkshire’s two Leeds depots, meaning bus services across the city will be severely affected.

Unite regional officer Darren Rushworth said: “First’s profits continue to soar. This dispute can be brought to an end quickly and simply: First West Yorkshire need to return the anniversary date back to April and begin pay talks.”

First Bus has announced that limited timetables will be in force as services are severely disrupted by the industrial action.

Some services including FlexiBus will not operate. The following services will not be affected and will run as normal: School services: CH24, CH25, CH26, CH27, CH28, CM3, L74, L75, L78, L79, LW1, LW2, OA2, OA3, and OA4.

72, X6, X11, and 508.

First Bus said on their website: “During the industrial action, our limited timetables will run from around 07:00 until around 19:00 each day. There may be short notice changes if we don’t have enough drivers to run the services, but we’ll be working tirelessly to maintain these timetables.

“We will keep this page and @FirstWestYorks updated regularly on each day of the industrial action to help you plan your travel.

“Timetables for each service will be available to view from Saturday.”