Bus drivers and engineers at Arriva to go on strike

Over 300 drivers and engineers at Arriva Northumbria will walk out for one week from 7 April with a further week starting 21 April.

The union Unite says its members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strikes following "the refusal of Arriva to improve a pay offer of just 4 per cent".

Unite says Arriva drivers are the lowest paid out of the three main operators in Tyne & Wear - with the best-paid drivers earning less than those employed by Go North East and Stagecoach.

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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Arriva is behaving appallingly given it made millions off the backs of our members and is about to be sold off to a Miami-based private equity firm.

"This employer doesn't care about its workforce and its overseas owners don't care about the communities in the north east.

"Without our members there is no bus company and their pay and conditions must reflect the hard work they put in day in and day out."

Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: “This strike demonstrates the strength of ill-feeling at Arriva over the poor pay offer they’ve offered our members when energy bills and mortgages have gone through the roof. Unite will be backing them 100 per cent.”

An Arriva spokesperson said the firm would "continue to work with Unite and try our best to find the most appropriate resolution".

Unite’s members are based at the Blyth and Ashington depots.