1 August 2017
RMT Press Office:
RMT to ballot Stagecoach South West bus staff for action over pay.
BUS UNION RMT said today that it is to ballot Stagecoach bus staff across a large area of their South West operations for both strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over pay.
RMT members are angry that the company has tabled a pay and conditions package that doesn’t even keep pace with the Retail Price Index and which would condemn a key group of transport staff who are already on low pay levels to a de facto pay cut.
As a result, RMT has confirmed to the company that we are now in dispute and that preparations for a ballot are now under way.
The ballot will cover over 750 bus drivers, cleaners and engineering grades at the Exeter, Torquay and Barnstaple garages.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Bus workers in the South West provide an essential service across a wide geographical area and they deserve a fair deal on pay. At the moment they are being offered a package that stacks up to a de facto pay cut and RMT’s executive has agreed with our local branches that that is entirely unacceptable.
“Final preparations for a ballot for both strike action and action short of a strike are now underway and we will release the timetable shortly.
“RMT negotiators have made every effort in talks to reach a negotiated settlement but the company have come up well short of what our members both expect and deserve for the hard work they put in day in and day out.
“RMT remains available for serious and meaningful talks.”
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