Hundreds of bus drivers employed by Stagecoach West are staging a month-long strike, starting just a few days before the Cheltenham Festival.
Almost 400 bus drivers will take action against Stagecoach West, over a month-long dispute over low pay.
The strikes will begin on Thursday, March 10 and end on Saturday, April 9.
Trade union Unite said there will be "considerable disruption", especially over the weekend of the Cheltenham races, which begins on Tuesday, March 15.
Strike action annouced ❗ - Stagecoach bus drivers in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire to strike!.
— Unite South West (@unitesouthwest) February 23, 2022
“Unite has given Stagecoach West every opportunity to make a fair pay offer to avoid strike action but it has failed to do so" @UniteSharon
Read more ⬇️https://t.co/ScdEjhK6UN
According to Unite, many drivers are paid less than £11 an hour and this has not increased in line with inflation.
The union also said that Stagecoach offered "pay cuts" rather than rises.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite has given Stagecoach West every opportunity to make a fair pay offer to avoid strike action but it has failed to do so.
“Our members at Stagecoach West have made it very clear that they will accept nothing less than a significant pay rise and they have Unite’s full support in this fight.
“Stagecoach has to get real – it’s time to table a serious offer.”
Which services will be affected?
The services will affect all of Stagecoach West’s services operating at the following depots:
- Bristol
- Cheltenham
- Coalway
- Gloucester
- Stroud
- Swindon
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