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Bus drivers consider striking over wages

8:00am Friday 3rd July 2009


BUS drivers across Essex look set to strike following a dispute over pay.

Drivers are angry with First Essex Buses for not agreeing to a pay rise.

A ballot by the Unite union found 76 per cent of drivers were in favour of taking industrial action.

First Essex Buses is preparing to minimise disruption to bus services, which it runs across the region, and will meet with the trade union next week for discussions to try to avert strike action.

One Clacton-based driver, who did not want to be named, said: “If we were to have a pay rise we would have to self-finance it, meaning cutbacks or more driving.

“As drivers, we find it very hard to understand that there will be no pay rise because First did make a good profit this year and they are showing interest in buying National Express.

“We also find it hard to understand when fuel prices went up, so did the fares. When fuel prices went back down at around March, fares still went up – it really isn’t fair to the customers.”

He added that the issue could lead to a national strike among bus drivers.

Alan Pilbeam, managing director of First East England, said he was disappointed at the outcome of the ballot.

He said: “We want to avoid any action that results in our passengers being let down during one of the most turbulent economic periods the country has ever seen, if at all possible.

“We hope that, through changes to terms and conditions, a way forward can be achieved to fund the drivers’ demands for a pay increase. We are also happy to involve ACAS in our discussions to try and avoid any unnecessary action.”

He added that the company is experiencing problems during the recession and needs to find a way of saving money to fund any pay increase demands from the union.

He added: “Bus drivers’ wages come from fares, which are paid by everyone who travels by bus, and we can’t expect our customers to keep paying more.

“We are working to ensure that our passengers don’t have to suffer when our buses are off the road because the drivers are on strike.”


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Your Say YourColchester

vangebasildon, Vange says...
8:18am Fri 3 Jul 09

Oh please, where have the drivers been, don't they know we are in a state of recession, be grateful you have jobs at this time, accept that this year you may have to forgoe a rise and please don't make those who pay your wages, the passengers suffer due to your greed.

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shallotman, Basildon says...
8:31am Fri 3 Jul 09

If you can do better elsewhere, chuck it in.Be grateful you have a job.

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Shadow Demon, Colchester says...
8:32am Fri 3 Jul 09

Exactly what vange said we are in the midst of a global recesion yet there are stil some self centred idiots who feel that they deserve their annual pay rise, perhaps they should just be grateful that they have a job rather than trying to ge more money.

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tjt19720, colchester says...
9:07am Fri 3 Jul 09

be gratefull that you have a job in time like now, if your not happy with the pay at the minute go and find another job and let someone else have yours

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hughie-s, Here says...
9:18am Fri 3 Jul 09

First are not advertising for drivers at the moment but I guess their rates are similar to Network Colcheter who are recruiting at a rate of £9.00 per hour.

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PINKBUNNY79, BASILDON says...
10:08am Fri 3 Jul 09

Lol and to make it worse the buses don't even run on time. We waited half hour for a number 5 the other day. So much for running every 7mins... As said by everyone. Be thankful u have a job!

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David Belem, Clacton says...
11:14am Fri 3 Jul 09

Greedy git’s all they do is sit on there backsides and drive there vehicles at people with no intention of giving way in the interest of safety, no seriously its not bad money they get for the effort put in and there lucky to have a job, there is a resection bus drivers be grateful and hold tight LOL!

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fairlady, Clacton says...
1:28pm Fri 3 Jul 09

I agree with the other posts. This is an insult to the unfortunate people who are trying desperately to find work or have been made redundant recently.

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pdelaney, colchester says...
4:04pm Fri 3 Jul 09

My son-in-law and his work colleagues are now on a 4 day week, reluctantly set in motion to save the company he works for from bankrupcy due to this recession. You bus drivers should think yourself lucky you're not in that situation or worth still, facing redundancy. If you strike you are all downright selfish and ungrateful

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Myrtle, Great Clacton says...
4:21pm Fri 3 Jul 09

Greedy so and so's. My husband and all his workmates have agreed that they will not take a wage increase this year because of the recession.Theirs is a hard manual job consisting of over 45 hours a week ,not sitting on their bums, and they don't earn anything near what the bus drivers get.Just be drateful you have jobs .

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Jimmy, Harwich says...
11:13pm Fri 3 Jul 09

Just because some people have lost their jobs due to the recession, why should the bus drivers be made to feel grateful that they have a job?
It is their right to try to try to improve their terms and conditions although they'll have to put up with the consequences if it all goes wrong. Its not as though they benefited much during the so called boom times, unlike many professions. Bus drivers do not get paid particularly well and can hardly be accused of being greedy. If driving buses is such a cushy little number, why aren't you all out there taking the PSV licence? Apart from certain medical conditions and criminal records, there's nothing stopping you.

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David Belem, Clacton says...
7:15am Sat 4 Jul 09

I have Got a PSV the jobs to boring

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David Belem, Clacton says...
11:25pm Sat 4 Jul 09

Gazette as you wont deal with the loooooooony, pleas ban me to save me from stooping to the very lo level of this idiot ian burit LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! @ the looooooony loooooooser Ian Buritt.

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alibags35, Basildon says...
11:44pm Sun 5 Jul 09

I was made redundant and my hubby is a bus driver and was one of the few that chose not to strike. i'd just like to say to all those people who said that bus drivers are lazy tey are certainly not and work very hard. The money isnt great but if you look at it from their point of view first anounced millions profit and wanted to buy national rail. The people in the suits sittng at the desks get the pay rises but not the drivers that do the hard work!!!

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ed_stone, says...
9:24am Mon 6 Jul 09

alibags35: First bus say nobody is getting a pay rise this year, not even the MDs -- is this a lie?! It's big news if it is a lie. Otherwise, why should drivers get pay rises when their jobs are secure, but other people are being laid off across the country?

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fairlady, Clacton says...
10:18am Mon 6 Jul 09

hughie-s, Here says...
I guess their rates are similar to Network Colcheter who are recruiting at a rate of £9.00 per hour.

alibags35, Basildon says... those people who said that bus drivers are lazy tey are certainly not and work very hard.

I went to college, have diplomas but don't get any where near £9 an hour and I also work hard, but I feel very grateful that I still have a job and so should they


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Boris, Colchester says...
12:29pm Mon 6 Jul 09

Fairlady, why don't you apply for one of those jobs? There are not many lady drivers at the moment so it would be good if people like you joined. You could also be a role model for other young women.


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pdelaney, colchester says...
2:59pm Mon 6 Jul 09

Looks like there will also be some cleaning vacancies down at CGH Boris. You could help keep the patients sedated with your incessant ranting LOL

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