A UNION has described the deal agreed between bus drivers and Arriva as a "new era in employment relations".

Yesterday, it was confirmed a second bus strike by Arriva drivers that was due to start this weekend had been called off following an eleventh hour settlement between management and unions.

Unite said today  that the drivers, based at Darlington, Durham, Redcar, Stockton and Whitby, voted by a large majority in favour of the pay package which will run to March 2021.

Unite said that the 10-days of strike action by the drivers due to have started on Sundaywill now not go-ahead.

Ray Sanderson, Unite regional officer,  said: “We can confirm that our members have voted to accept the revised pay offer. Our members will now be working normally, as the strike action has been called off.

“We would like to pay tribute to our members for the strong solidarity they have shown during the course of this dispute, which has helped enormously to reach the settlement we now have.

‘We look forward to a constructive dialogue with the management going forward for the benefit of the travelling public and our hardworking members. Hopefully, this will herald a new dawn in employment relations with the company.”

The new two year deal will see a reduction in the time, from five years to three, it takes Arriva Durham area drivers to reach a new top pay rate of £10.60 an hour.

In addition, there are hourly rate increases for drivers with fewer than three years’ service, with all increases being backdated to March 2018.