Go North East bus engineers balloted for strike action over pay

Go Ahead Group earning millions in profits but refusing to give an inflation-linked pay rise

Around 150 Go North East bus engineers are being balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (Friday). The ballot for strike action comes after the workers at depots in Dunston, Sunderland, Consett, North Shields, Washington, Hexham and Gateshead rejected a 10 per cent pay offer from the company.

The workers said the offer was an effective pay cut and are demanding a rise of 12.3 per cent, which was rate of RPI inflation when the negotiations began. The RPI inflation rate is currently 12.6 per cent and rising.

Go North East is part of the Go Ahead group, which reported a statutory profit before tax of £50.1m during the six months ending 1 January 2022. The company has also stated it is expecting to return healthy finances in 2022.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Go Ahead can well afford to pay our members a pay rise that meets RPI inflation and it needs to do so. Our members will have Unite’s full support as they fight for a fair pay rise.”

The ballot for strike action opens tomorrow (11 November) and closes on 29 November. Strike action could begin as early as mid-December, impacting services across the region.

Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: “The anger amongst our Go North East engineering members is such that Unite is balloting for strike action. Go North East needs to return to negotiations with an offer our members can accept.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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