8:00am Friday 3rd July 2009
By James Dwan
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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