Arriva bus workers in Hertfordshire set to strike

Around 900 bus workers in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire voted to strike over pay.

Unite said Arriva's offer to drivers, admin staff, engineers, cleaners and shunters of a pay rise of between 4% and 6% is actually a "real terms pay cut", pointing towards the real rate of inflation running at 11.8%.

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Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “Strikes will cause severe disruption across the region.

"This will be entirely Arriva’s fault for offering a pay cut disguised as a rise while our members are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

“Arriva must come back with an offer our members can accept.”

Strikes are expected at Arriva’s depots in Luton, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Ware, Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead, severely impacting bus services in Hertfordshire.

Arriva bus in Watford town centre. Credit: Holly Cant (Image: Holly Cant)

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva must improve this pay cut dressed up as a rise.

"It is a particularly bad deal for drivers because it has strings attached that will actually drive down their wages even further.

“I have been very clear that our members’ jobs, pay and conditions are Unite’s top priority.

“We will not let employers, such as Arriva and its owner Deutsche Bahn, who can afford to pay but refuse to do so, off the hook.

"Unless a better offer is put forward strikes will go ahead.”

Arriva bus. Picture: Arriva

Unite added that a 16.6% cut to overtime rates and an end to paid time for compulsory duties, such as travelling to a bus stop to pick up a bus mid-route, are tied to the pay offer.

An Arriva spokesperson said: ““We are deeply disappointed by this totally unjustified and damaging strike action

“Any strike action in this region will inevitably result in an increase in passenger fares, job losses and depot closures

Picture: Watford Borough Council

“We urge Unite to work with us to agree a way forward and consider the irreparable damage this action will inflict upon our employees, passengers and the local bus network. 

“We are requesting that Arriva’s pay offer, which significantly exceeds awards being made in other industries, be put to their members in a ballot.”

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