Hampshire bus strikes suspended after revised pay offer put forward
Drivers and supervisors at First Bus had been due to walk out all this week
Seven days' worth of bus strikes across southern Hampshire, which were due to start today (Monday 3rd), have been suspended.
The Unite union says it is pausing its industrial action on First Bus in order to consult with bus drivers and supervisors about a revised deal on pay and conditions.
Around 140 members of staff based at the Hoeford depot near Fareham had been due to walk out between March 3rd and 7th and again on March 9th-10th as part of their dispute, which has been ongoing since December.
Services across Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham and Southampton have been affected during the action, which led to the cancellation of services around Christmas and again on 22 days throughout January.
The company had previously awarded staff a 4.8% pay increase, with another 3% on the table.
But bosses at Unite claimed that deal was being imposed on its members.
Simon Goff, Managing Director at Solent from First Bus:
"We are delighted to have agreed an offer with our Unite colleagues, and that they have suspended their industrial action immediately.
"Unite the Union has confirmed it will recommend our latest pay offer to its members in a ballot this week.
"We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding throughout our determined efforts to end this dispute.
"Our team remains focused on delivering excellent services in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport and the wider region."