After an agreement was reached on a “substantial” salary rise, bus employees canceled their scheduled strike.
Unite union members at Stagecoach Merseyside were scheduled to strike on Wednesday over the issue, but a fresh salary offer was reached after a poll.
On July 4, the 370 members of the Gillmoss depot staff had previously participated in a day of strike action.
Stagecoach Merseyside expressed its happiness in reaching an agreement.
According to the agreement, bus drivers’ wages would rise to £14 an hour with a March backdate and to £14.20 starting in January 2023, according to the union.
Pay increases for engineers will be 10.3 percent retroactive to March and 1.45 percent beginning in January 2023.
“This is a considerable wage raise and highlights what can be achieved by employees taking a stance where we know companies can pay,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“Unite is committed to fighting for the employment, compensation, and working conditions of its members, and the Stagecoach Merseyside pay agreement shows that this strategy is effective.”
Speaking on behalf of the bus company, a spokesperson stated that the company’s services were “essential to our communities and we are proud of the wonderful job our colleagues perform in ensuring important transport links for locals.”
The long-term wage agreement, she continued, “is in the collective best interests of our employees and customers and promotes the viability of the bus network. We are glad to have reached this agreement.”
Unresolved industrial action involving Unite members working for Arriva in the North West will start on Wednesday.
