Go North East drivers strike over low pay offer
Monday 11 March 2013
Printable
EmailBus drivers in the north east of England will strike on Friday over a below-inflation pay offer from a company set to register over £7 million in profits this year.
The first of three 24-hour strikes at Go North East will commence at 4am on Friday after 60 per cent of workers voted in favour of the action.
Go North East, which made £7.2 million profit in 2012 and is on target to make £7.4m in profits in 2013, offered workers a pay rise of just 2 per cent.
That would leave drivers bringing home under half of the approximately £40,000-a-year that Tyne and Wear Metro drivers earn.
Unite regional officer Fazia Hussain-Brown said: "The company's below-inflation pay offer means a pay cut in real terms when prices are going up.
"The drivers take home £240 a week, they are struggling to support their families, with some having to rely on benefits.
"We want the company to be successful, but the workers who make the company a success should get their fair share."
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