London (Parliament Politic Magazine) – The North East of England is experiencing significant disruptions in its bus services due to an ongoing strike by staff at one of the region’s major transportation companies. Why are these employees taking such action, and how long will this disruption persist?
Which Services Are Affected?
Nearly all of Go North East’s services spanning Tyneside, Northumberland, County Durham, and Teesside have been canceled until further notice since staff initiated the strike at midnight.
Some scholar services for school pupils may still operate, as they did during two recent strikes. Those prior walkouts each lasted for one week. However, this latest industrial action is being pursued on a “continuous” basis, potentially extending for a duration of up to 12 weeks.
As one of the primary bus operators in the area, Go North East maintains a fleet of almost 700 buses and coaches, serving approximately 175,000 passengers on a typical day.
This strike involves around 1,300 employees, including drivers, engineers, administration personnel, clerical staff, and technology specialists from all six of the company’s depots located in Consett, Hexham, Sunderland, Percy Main, Gateshead, and Washington.
It’s important to note that services provided by other companies such as Arriva and Stagecoach remain unaffected by this strike.”
Why Are Staff Striking?
The primary reason behind the strike action is a stark disparity in wages between Go North East employees and their counterparts at Go North West, both of which fall under the Go-Ahead Group’s umbrella. Workers’ union Unite has highlighted this wage inequality as the core issue.
In particular, when comparing the wages of drivers, Unite has pointed out that Go North East’s drivers receive £12.83 per hour, whereas those at Go North West are paid considerably more at £15.54 per hour. This wage gap of £2.71 per hour translates to a substantial weekly difference of £105.69, according to the union’s calculations.
Despite Go North East’s recent pay offer, which included a 10.3% increase in hourly rates for drivers, bringing them up to £14.15 per hour and an above-inflation raise for the next year, Unite members rejected this proposal. The union argues that even with this offer, the wage gap would still persist, with a difference of £1.39 per hour equating to £54.21 less per week for North East workers.
Unite has been advocating for a 13% pay increase, which, although it would narrow the gap, would not fully align the wages of employees in the two regions. As a show of support for the striking workers, the union is providing them with £70 per day.
Go North East’s Stance on the Strike
The bus company, which stands as the third-largest private employer in the region, trailing only behind Nissan and Virgin Money, expressed deep disappointment over the rejection of its latest proposal.
Go North East characterized this offer as a “milestone proposal,” highlighting that it would have positioned its workers as the highest-paid drivers in the North East, surpassing their counterparts in rival companies.
According to the company, the annual pay for drivers following this offer would have seen an increase of nearly £2,700 for those working a standard week, while drivers who opted for overtime could potentially gain over £3,000 extra per year.
Go North East’s business director, Ben Maxfield, emphasized that the company had been responsive to the drivers’ key demands, including an above-inflation pay increase, no alterations to working conditions, and top-tier rates.
Passenger Reactions to the Strike
Reactions from passengers have been diverse, reflecting the varying impacts of the strike. In conversations with the media, individuals have expressed a range of sentiments. Some have conveyed their concerns about the practical challenges they face, including the struggle to commute to work or attend essential hospital appointments and the financial strain of resorting to taxis.
For instance, Daniel Murray, a regular bus traveler from Consett to Newcastle and Durham, voiced his support for the strikes, emphasizing that he believes Go North East’s workers deserve better compensation.
However, there are contrasting viewpoints among passengers as well. Hannah Allenby, an IT tutor who relies on Go North East buses for her commute from Bowburn to Houghton-le-Spring, raised concerns about the strike’s prolonged duration, noting that it could effectively confine people to their homes for an extended period, drawing parallels to the restrictions seen during the Covid pandemic.”