First Bus will become a Real Living Wage (RLW) employer from 1 April, becoming the largest national bus operator to make this commitment.
The move will put 1,300 employees on at least £12 per hour – compared to the government’s statutory Living Wage, which will be £11.44 per hour for those aged 21 and over from April onwards.
First Bus says the announcement is part of an ongoing transformation of the business to put colleagues and customers “at the heart of everything it does”.
The operator says it will go over and above by including apprentices, raising their wages to RLW level over the next 18 months.
Managing Director Janette Bell says: “We are delighted to be working with the Living Wage Foundation and look forward to achieving our real Living Wage commitment. I am thrilled this will positively impact 1,300 of our colleagues with a pay rise from 1 April and that we are once again demonstrating to our people and the market that we care.
“Engaged employees encourage customers to travel more often. So, by treating our employees well, we are also helping to achieve our mission to get people out of their cars and onto the bus.
“We want First Bus to be a place where our people feel welcome, can be their true selves and succeed. It is vital that we do all we can to support our colleagues, and this is another important step in our transformation journey.”
RLW applies to all over aged 18-plus, whereas the government’s living wage will be £8.60 for those aged 18-20 for the next financial year. The annually calculated measure is also London-weighted and is currently set at £13.15 per hour.
Lynn Anderson, Living Wage Scotland Manager, adds: “We’re delighted that First Bus will be accrediting in April, giving a pay rise to hundreds of employees. First Bus will join more than 3,400 Scottish employers and 14,000 Living Wage employers across the UK who are committed to always paying their staff a wage in line with the cost of living. We look forward to welcoming First Bus to the Living Wage movement.”
Other coach and bus operators accredited as RLW employers are: Stagecoach London, Abellio London, Transport for London, Diamond North West, Metroline, Cardiff Bus, Shuttle Buses, National Express, Kineil Coaches, KT’s Coaches of Kendal, Stotts Tours (Oldham), Shandon Travel, Prentice Coaches and Longmynd Travel.
