Is Your Bus Ride in June Affected by the Biggest Strike of the Year?

Nearly 500 Liverpool Stagecoach bus drivers will strike over pay in June, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Thursday).

The workers are angry over the huge disparity between their pay and that of Arriva Liverpool drivers. Arriva drivers are paid £1.40 more an hour, equating to around £3,000 a year, for performing the same role.

Stagecoach is a profitable company that announced revenues of £773.2 million for the half year to 28 October 2023, up from £669.6 million during the previous six months. In the same period, operating profits increased to £51.1 million from £33.1 million.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “For too long Stagecoach has gotten away with paying its Liverpool drivers on the cheap. It can totally afford to equalise pay with Arriva and that is what needs to happen.

“Unite’s Liverpool Stagecoach members have their union’s total backing in striking for a fair pay rise.”

The workers will strike from 13 June to 18 June. As well as day-to-day travel, transport to events during the strike action, such as concerts by Taylor Swift and Pink, will also be disrupted. If the dispute is not resolved industrial action will escalate, including the possibility of indefinite all out strikes. 

Unite regional officer Brian Troake said: “Our members have been forced into strike action by Stagecoach’s continued attempts to keep them on unfair rates of pay. Stagecoach owes an apology for the disruption it will cause to the travelling public.

“There is still time to avoid industrial action, but that requires Stagecoach to return to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.”