PRESS RELEASE : Bus Workers to Take Strike Action [October 2022]

The press release issued by the RMT on 5 October 2022.

RMT members working on buses in Somerset, and Cornwall will take strike action from October 10, in a fight for better pay and conditions.

Four days of strike action will take place on the following dates:

10 October
21 October
4 November
11 November

Around 400 workers who are planning to take action are furious that many of them are only paid just over £11 and hour and that bosses only offered a small uprate to £12 an hour.

This is despite the fact First Group paid out £500m to shareholders in 2021/22 and has an operating profit of £226m.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our members have no choice but to take strike action following an insulting and paltry pay offer.

“First Group is swimming in money and could easily pay bus workers a decent rise that goes some way to dealing with the escalating cost of living crisis.

“The public in Cornwall and Somerset who our members faithfully serve need a service that pays workers properly, so they do not leave the industry, creating chronic bus shortages.

“We are determined to win for our members, and we urge First Group to come to a negotiated settlement with RMT.”