Major disruption warning as Scots set for six weeks of bus chaos from today
Stagecoach drivers have voted to strike daily for up to six weeks in a dispute over pay
COMMUTER CHAOS Major disruption warning as Scots set for six weeks of bus chaos from today
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THOUSANDS of Scots are facing commuter chaos for up to SIX WEEKS as bus services are axed over strike action.
Around 430 Stagecoach bus drivers are going on all-out strike from today (June 9) in a dispute over pay.
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A spokesperson for Stagecoach said the strike action was "regrettable"
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Drivers, backed by union Unite The Union, previously rejected a four percent pay rise offer outright by 98 percent, because they were being asked to work longer hours, take longer unpaid breaks and potentially lose up to one week's annual leave.
As a result commuters are being told to brace themselves for six weeks of continuous action starting on June 9 and lasting until July 21.
Travellers based in and around Ayrshire will be affected as the action involves staff from depots in Ayr, Ardrossan, Arran and Kilmarnock, servicing passengers across bus routes across Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow.
The bus depots in Dumfries and Galloway are not involved the strike action.
The union said the current pay offer is "unacceptable" and claimed it would leave the drivers among the poorest paid across Stagecoach's UK operations.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Stagecoach West Scotland is taking our members for a ride because they are profitable company.
"The pay offer on the table leaves them the poorest paid drivers across Stagecoach's UK operations.
"That is simply unacceptable. Unite will back our drivers all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.'
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said the strike action was "regrettable".
They said: "Unite the Union has confirmed plans to take industrial action on Friday 6 June and from Monday 9 June, daily for up to 6 weeks. As a result, there will be disruptions to our bus services on these days.
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"Industrial action will take place over driver pay for our employees based at depots in Ayr, Ardrossan, Arran, and Kilmarnock.
"Regrettably, the industrial action will disrupt our services and inconvenience our customers. As we play a crucial role in helping people stay connected with their communities, we plan to operate a limited service with the drivers available to us.
"We're working hard to minimise the impact of this disruption, but unfortunately, the limited services we're running will affect customers travelling in and around Ayrshire.
"We're very sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding."
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