Glasgow bus driver strike ballot could heap further misery on public transport users

On October 19, the return of a consultative ballot showed that 99% of Unite’s members working for First Bus Glasgow rejected a pay offer in a 70% turnout.

The ballot is expected to open on November 1 and close on November 15.

It comes a matter of days after railway workers backed potentially highly disruptive strike action during the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow, in a major escalation of long-festering pay disputes.

The threat by the RMT transport workers union to halt all train services within Scotland from November 1-12 is expected to throw into chaos the already challenging logistics surrounding an international meeting aimed at accelerating efforts to combat global warming.

The RMT said last week that a ballot of more than 2,000 members -including conductors, ticket inspectors and drivers – on whether they would support strike action had backed plans to strike.

Some 84% were in favour of the action over what it says is a refusal by train operator ScotRail and Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland to negotiate an acceptable pay increase.

READ MORE: Ministers warn ScotRail COP26 strike could undermine recovery of Scotland's railways

That came after 250 engineers, who provide maintenance, overhaul and repair services for the railway rolling stock planned a COP26 strike to bring the nation's railways to a standstill.

A series of 24 hours stoppages were due to take place through COP26 over what a union called the "reckless" actions of ScotRail, which is operated by the Dutch state transport operator Abellio.

But that action was suspended to consider a new pay offer.

The Scottish Conservatives have called for urgent talks to avert the wider ScotRail strike that would halt most of the nation's trains during COP26.

ScotRail has said it would be able to run less than 10% of normal services if the stoppages went ahead, with trains on the Edinburgh-Bathgate-Glasgow line expected to be the only ones operating outside the Glasgow area.

Unite said it was highlighting the increasing number of bus drivers who are leaving the industry to find better paid jobs elsewhere which it said was having a "negative knock-on effect" on the availability of bus services and routes.

The trade union has warned that due to low pay, shift work, and poor terms and conditions across the bus industry, driver shortages are now becoming "endemic" in certain areas of the country Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, said: “First Glasgow drivers have worked from the beginning of this pandemic to ensure that essential workers could get to their work at risk to themselves, and their families.

"More than 1300 drivers gave up their anticipated pay rise in 2020 because of the crisis and understood the situation the company was facing. Then our members agreed to forego their next scheduled pay rise in April 2021. The reality is that our members will now have worked with no pay rise for nearly two years, which is unacceptable. They have gone the extra mile and they deserve better.

“There is a growing shortage of bus drivers across Scotland which is becoming endemic in certain areas of the nation. We are increasingly concerned that drivers have secured better jobs elsewhere resulting in bus services being slashed across Glasgow, and it is expected that further cuts to services are imminent.

"It’s an outrage that the citizens of Glasgow who rely on these services are being badly affected because of First Glasgow’s desire to pay shareholders dividends, rather than to recruit and retain good and experienced drivers.”

Mick Dowds, Unite convenor at First Bus Glasgow, added: “Drivers have had enough. They are working long hours, weekends and late evenings for £10 per hour which is poverty pay by anyone’s standards. First Glasgow need to stop the flood of drivers leaving their company, and they need to start retaining and attracting new drivers. The only way which this can be done is through decent pay, and decent terms and conditions. Without this First Bus Glasgow will not be able to provide the service that Glasgow deserves.”

Paul Clark, head of operations for First Glasgow said: “First Glasgow, like most transport businesses in the UK, are experiencing driver shortages, as a result of several factors. These include fewer European drivers being available, Covid absences including self-isolations and DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) delays in releasing provisional licences to new candidates, as well as the knock-on effects of driver shortages in adjacent sectors, including HGV.

“In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to maintain a comprehensive network of services that supports our customers and our communities. The majority of routes are running normally although in some areas we are making temporary timetable adjustments to ensure a reliable service and minimise disruption.

“We are still in talks with our Unite the Union colleagues over pay and conditions as part of on-going talks and we are making positive progress.

"We have now agreed a new starter rate of £11/hour which will come into effect from this Sunday and more talks are scheduled for next week in regard to pay and progression for existing staff. We are hopeful of reaching an agreeable solution in the near future.

“Any potential ballot does not effect services during COP26 and we will continue to do all to support this global event as the eyes of the world turn to Glasgow from November 1.

“We also currently have an active national recruitment campaign underway, which is seeking to attract new entrants to the industry with flexible working patterns for drivers in Glasgow such as part time working and in addition to full time 4, 5 and 6 day shifts.

“One thing that is clear, is that people are still keen to become bus drivers and serve their local communities, so we are working to make that process as easy as possible.”