Stagecoach industrial action across the UK

[mb88]

At the same time as the trains?

That means if theres no trains, I can't get to college as my alternate is the bus. And that means my Mum can't get to work as a carer because the buses are striking.

Blame Stagecoach for not paying their staff a decent wage.

 

[ACBest]

Worksop and Mansfield have now cancelled their strike action - in an email sent out, Stagecoach say…

No industrial action in Mansfield & Worksop

​ We're pleased to confirm there will be no industrial strike action in Mansfield and Worksop on Monday 18th October.​ Following constructive discussions with RMT, the decision to implement industrial action has been suspended and services in Mansfield and Worksop will run as per our current timetables.​

No sign of this good news on their website though bizarrely.

Also cancelled in Chesterfield, and this one does appear on their website at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-04/10/2021-12:22:03:735.

We are pleased to confirm there will be no industrial strike action in Chesterfield on Monday 18th October.

Following ongoing discussions with RMT and Unite, the decision to implement industrial action has been revoked and services in Chesterfield will run as per our current timetables.

We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the RMT and Unite unions that provides a fair deal for our employees in Chesterfield and helps to secure the long-term sustainability of the local bus network.

Due to a driver shortage there may still be some service cancellations on the day but please keep up to date by following us on Twitter - @StagecoachYrks

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this uncertainty and we assure you we have been working tirelessly in an effort to avoid such disruption.

 

[Mwanesh]

South Wales have tried to make conditions worse for new starters.The senior drivers have all stuck together and said no we can't have someone on low pay for 2 years. Caerphilly were to run the 151.There is a lot of bad feeling between Caerphilly and Blackwood. Caerphilly accepted the pay rise but sold new starters.

 

[Wolvercoter]

The strike affecting Stagecoach South West has been called off.

From the Stagecoach website:

Strike Action- NOW SUSPENDED- Services to operate as normal On Monday 18th October​

We are pleased to confirm there will be no industrial strike action in Exeter, Torbay and North Devon on Monday 18th October.

Following constructive discussions with RMT, the decision to implement industrial action has been suspended and services in Exeter, Torbay and North Devon will run as per our current timetables.

Due to a driver shortage there may still be some service cancellations on the day but please keep up to date by checking our latest service updates here.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this uncertainty and we assure you we have been working tirelessly in an effort to avoid such disruption.

ServiceUpdatesArticle | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)

 

[Furryanimal]

The strikes in South Wales have started and after rescinding last weeks announcement about limited services on routes 151 and X24 it turns out there services on these routes. Not that limited either.Although they were still insisting last evening there wouldn’t be.
X24 not going beyond Varteg Hill and services over by about 5.
Meanwhile there seemed a very large number of Phil Anslow buses in Cwmbran bus station this morning ready to run duplicate services on their routes if buses became full.
Travelled into Cwmbran on a Newport Transport bus that calls at the train station which is by the bus depot and there were a large number of striking drivers milling about waving unite flags.

Edit: I am advised by someone who has seen them that X24 branded buses are operating on the 151 route.

 

[Dai Corner]

Statement from the MD of Stagecoach South Wales

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Miscellaneous/WALES/StagecoachSW1981_Strike_340x265_Ad_PRINT.pdf

Dear Customer,
From next week, the Unite union is planning to disrupt your Stagecoach community bus services in the Blackwood, Cwmbran, Pontypool, Blaenavon, Ebbw Vale, Abertillery and Brynmawr areas. We are sorry that the union is determined to disrupt your travel.
For many weeks, Stagecoach has been seeking to constructively negotiate a pay agreement with the Unite union for our people who have helped keep Wales moving during the pandemic.
We 100% believe they deserve an increase in pay and we have left no stone unturned in seeking to reach a settlement, as we have been able to achieve at other depots in south Wales.
Our offer would give employees a significant pay increase of more than 6%. Employees would also continue to have access to pension and other benefits. Sick pay rates would be at the same level agreed with the union at all other depots in Wales.
However, with bus networks across Wales remaining in a fragile state as we emerge slowly from the pandemic, the union’s demand for a 10.5% increase in one step is not achievable without damaging your bus services. Your bus services are too critical to people’s lives to let that happen.
We have already involved the independent mediation service ACAS to try to reach a settlement. While that has not succeeded to date, we are open to further discussions with Unite through ACAS.
Please check the information here on how Unite strike action may affect your bus services.
Stagecoach remains committed to finding a solution. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work hard to get there.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Winter
Managing Director Stagecoach South Wales

 

[Mwanesh]

The MD is talking nonsense. He has given Methyr a raise and Brynmawr next to nothing. These depots all do the X4, there will be a nearly 60p difference in pay. Caerphilly and Blackwood both do the 50 yet he has seen it fit to give them more and Blackwood peanuts. Over the years terms have got worse. This time enough is enough.

 

[Christmas]

Is there any news on the Western Buses strikes?

 

[Furryanimal]

Today[Friday] Stagecoach are managing to run their service 1 in Cwmbran and tomorrow will run a service on their other town routes
These in addition to the X24 and 151 which have been running all week.

 

[NewcastleOne]

Stagecoach North East to go on strike. 12 days in November and December.

Stagecoach staff to strike for 12 days over 'divide-and-rule' pay tactics

Unite announced the action which will affect bus services across Newcastle, South Shields and Sunderland

www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Twelve days of strikes are planned by Stagecoach staff over the company's "divide-and-rule" pay tactics.

The action, due to take place across November and into December, will disrupt bus services across the operator's Newcastle, South Shields and Sunderland sites.

The decision to strike has been made by more than 800 drivers, engineers, cleaners, supervisors and managers at Stagecoach North East, according to union Unite.

It follows "verbal offers" by management of "a cap at two per cent for the pay year 2021 - 2022".

Employees rejected the offer, and subsequently voted 92 per cent vote in favour of strike action and 94 per cent for an overtime ban.


The 24 hour strikes will take place on 8,10,12,16 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 30 November and on 2 and 4 December.

Action is planned to affect Newcastle’s Slatyford and Walkergate depots, as well as depots in South Shields, Sunderland and across Teesside.


Unite regional coordinating officer Mark Sanderson said: “Our members have overwhelmingly shown that they will not put up with management negotiating depot by depot in future.

"This has resulted in Unite members driving for Stagecoach in Newcastle being paid a higher hourly rate than those working at South Shields and Sunderland.

"Teesside drivers are paid less than all the other drivers in Stagecoach North East.

“However, this is the same company, the same managing director, the same regional pot of money, the same job.

“Other firms in the North East, such as Arriva and Go North East, have seen fit to offer more than Stagecoach’s miserly two per cent, which is made to look even more pathetic with the latest RPI inflation figure soaring to 4.9 per cent this month.

“We apologise in advance to the travelling public, who use these services, for any disruption this action will cause, but the reason for the disruption lies firmly with Stagecoach management.

"We are available for regional pay discussions with the management to resolve this dispute - the ball is very much in their court.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “ Nine out of ten members on an extensive ballot voted for strike action on Stagecoach’s miserable offer. The Stagecoach board should understand that Unite is ready for a relentless campaign.

“Unite members all over the UK are voting for industrial action right now over the company’s ‘penny pinching’ on pay, serving notice that the union more than ever is ready to fight to defend jobs pay and conditions.”

Stagecoach, meanwhile, has criticised the Unite for threatening to disrupt vital bus links in the North East which are a lifeline for local communities and businesses.

 

[randyrippley]

Preston will be entirely on strike, Lancaster will not be.

The disruption from this will be huge and other operators need to be ready to step up with the increased load.

I wonder if anyone remembers what happened when the former Ribble went on strike last time.......Stagecoach disposed of the whole in a fire sale, except for Morecambe and Preston. That's how Transdev got the East Lancs depots, and if I remember correctly a lot of staff regretted it after

 

[woolos]

Stagecoach south wales depots at Blackwood ,Brynmawr and Cwmbran have ageed to return to work after a agreement.

 

[Mwanesh]

After nearly a month all 3 depots are on the same money. The other depots sold new starters down the drain. These 3 held on despite or the press releases that were coming from Stagecoach

 

[Dai Corner]

After nearly a month all 3 depots are on the same money. The other depots sold new starters down the drain. These 3 held on despite or the press releases that were coming from Stagecoach

Is the full agreed offer available online anywhere?

 

[Mwanesh]

Is the full agreed offer available online anywhere?

I dont think so. It's £10.50 per hour for all 3 depots and new starters will be on the same rate for staff harmony. The other depots accepted the deals by throwing new starters under the bus.

 

[AY1975]

Stagecoach North East to go on strike. 12 days in November and December.

And 7 days from Saturday 27 November for Stagecoach Yorkshire including all routes worked from Sheffield Holbrook, Sheffield Ecclesfield, Rotherham Rawmarsh and Barnsley depots. Chesterfield depot (which has already agreed a deal and didn't go ahead with its planned strike) isn't involved in the dispute, though, so routes worked from Chesterfield depot that run between Derbyshire and South Yorkshire will still run. Supertram also isn't involved.

 

[Dai Corner]

I assume each Stagecoach depot negotiating separately is a hangover from the acquisition of smaller operators over the decades.

Do we know why there has been no attempt to align Ts-&+C's? Or perhaps there was but it was unsuccessful?

 

[PG]

I assume each Stagecoach depot negotiating separately is a hangover from the acquisition of smaller operators over the decades.

Correct. Also has the advantage of any industrial action having less effect than if an entire operating companies depots are all lumped in together.

Do we know why there has been no attempt to align Ts-&+C's? Or perhaps there was but it was unsuccessful?

Probably not in their interest to harmonise terms for economic reasons.

 

[M803UYA]

Correct. Also has the advantage of any industrial action having less effect than if an entire operating companies depots are all lumped in together.

Probably not in their interest to harmonise terms for economic reasons.

It's normal policy to play off the depots against one another - divide and conquer. Classic Stagecoach. The normal method of strike breaking employed by them is to find volunteers to cross the picket lines, billet them in hotels for the duration and to operate a flat fare structure (50p/£1).
Of course, if you have national coordinated action such a policy is not operable, which is the point I guess.
For all the 'guff' about bus drivers being unsung heroes, they certainly aren't paid as such.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Correct. Also has the advantage of any industrial action having less effect than if an entire operating companies depots are all lumped in together.

Probably not in their interest to harmonise terms for economic reasons.

To be fair, even in NBC times, you would have variations between depots in the same firm.