Bus Chaos Looms In Leeds Due To First West Yorkshire Drivers' Strike

800 Leeds bus drivers went on strike because the company refused to change the pay anniversary date back to normal.

800 First West Yorkshire bus drivers will strike every day from June 18. They're unhappy with the company's refusal to go back to the original date for new pay rises.

During the pandemic, Unite members who work for a company agreed to change their anniversary pay date to October. This was to help the company financially. Unite is a leading union in the UK.

Workers are in a tough spot due to the cost-of-living crisis. First West Yorkshire is not changing the date to April. This means workers will not get a pay increase until October. They really need the extra money.

Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, stated that drivers at First West Yorkshire stepped up for the company when needed. They risked their own health and that of their families by continuing to drive the buses during the pandemic. Furthermore, they agreed to postpone receiving a pay increase.

First Group kept driver wages low despite inflation, and our members are right to strike. It's a betrayal by First West Yorkshire and we stand with our members.

During the pandemic, bus drivers had a high rate of death from Covid19 compared to other workers.

FirstGroup stated that their income for 2023 will surpass the earlier predicted £137.4 million. Operating profits from the previous year were £226.8 million.

The workers work in two Leeds depots of First West Yorkshire, which will greatly impact bus services in the city.

The guy in charge of Unite for the area, Darren Rushworth, said that First is making a lot of money. He thinks they can fix this issue fast and easy by moving the anniversary date back to April and start talking about pay.

If you have questions for the media, contact Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher at 07849 090215.

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Unite is a big union in Britain and Ireland. It has members working in all kinds of jobs. Sharon Graham is the top leader.