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Stagecoach North East strike 'huge disruption' warning

Stagecoach North East strike 'huge disruption' warning

BBC News2 days ago
Hundreds of bus workers are set to take strike action next month which could cause "significant disruption" during the summer holidays, their union says.About 600 Unite members working at Stagecoach North East have voted to walk out after rejecting a 3.3% pay rise offer.Staff including drivers, cleaners and engineers at Busways Travel Services, which is part of the Stagecoach group, were offered the rise which Unite says is "well below the pay of those doing the same job in the north west".The BBC has approached Stagecoach for comment, but the company previously said it had made a "fair and responsible pay offer in line with the Consumer Prices Index".
Strikes are planned for Monday 11, Tuesday 12, Monday 18 and Thursday 21 August.
'Deserve better'
Figures from last year show Stagecoach recorded a total operating profit of £51.1m - up from £33.1m - and a profit before taxation of £47.6m, Unite said.General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Stagecoach is prioritising profits over people and our hardworking members deserve better."The hourly pay for drivers in the North East is £15.01 per hour.
Among those who voted for strike action are 500 members based at the Slatyford and Walkergate depots in Newcastle upon Tyne, including drivers. The majority of passenger bus services to and from Newcastle city centre operate from these depots.More than 80 engineers and cleaners based in Newcastle, Sunderland and South Shields, will take strike action at the same time.
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