A further round of talks today aimed at ending the ongoing strike by Go North East (GNE) drivers has failed, with the Unite union saying that the operator has failed to increase its pay offer.
After more than 1,300 Unite members voted on 27 October to reject a pay offer of 10.3%, the walk-out at the Go-Ahead Group operation began the following day.
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham says: “Go North East’s utter unwillingness to improve its pay offer in the slightest shows its blatant disregard for the wellbeing of its workers and the communities they serve.
“Go North East could end the strikes with a stroke of a pen by utilising the merest fraction of its profits but it is choosing not to do so.”
However, GNE has claimed the pay deal on the table would make its driver the best paid in the region, with a worker on 41 hours hours taken to a salary of more than £30,000 per year. It also cited on 9 November an independent poll by Savanta showing that 73% of local residents believe the offer is a fair one and that only 30% support the strike.
Ben Maxfield, Business Director, GNE, says: “The public are sick and tired of this strike, which has left people unable to get to work, to school, to hospital appointments or simply to go for a day out. People cannot understand why Unite would call an all-out stoppage over a 10.3% pay rise which would make its members the highest paid bus drivers in the North East.”
Earlier negotiations on 6 November saw GNE claim Unite representative staged a walk-out after four hours, while the union said it had presented “multiple ways of ending the strikes” which were turned down.
GNE has been approached for comment on the outcome of today’s discussions.
