Unite members at Stagecoach in South Wales have won a major victory in their fight to improve their terms and conditions.
Following 17 days of industrial action and with the threat of continuous strike action looming from November 17, Stagecoach has relented and offered a new deal to their workers. The revised pay offer achieves many of the goals set out by our members throughout the dispute, crucially this includes a new rate of pay of £10.50 per hour, back-dated to April 2021.
Unite members have this afternoon voted to accept the companies new offer and further strike action has now been called off.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “This is a tremendous victory for our members at Stagecoach South Wales. They have been completely united throughout the strike. As a result, they have achieved what is a break-through deal, for these workers, of £10.50 an hour.
"Our union is completely focused on driving up pay and conditions in the sector and this deal is an important statement of our intention to deliver upon this. All transport operators in Wales need to recognise that we will not accept poverty pay for our members.”
Regional officer, Alan McCarthy, commented: “Our members have been inspirational throughout this dispute. Not only have they achieved the £10.50 hourly rate with back pay, they successfully pushed back against cuts to sick pay for some of the longest-serving staff.
"This dispute has highlighted the scourge of low pay within the Welsh transport sector. With deregulation coming to an end in Wales we are calling upon the Welsh Government to us the opportunity to introduce a system of sectoral bargaining. Through this, we can end the continuous race to the bottom which has driven down pay rates.
"This dispute has been a shining example of what Unite the Union is all about, fighting for Jobs, Pay and Conditions in the workplace. Our members here will remember this victory for a long time, they are determined to remain united going forward into future pay talks.”
