PROPOSED strike action at local bus company Network Warrington scheduled for this Wednesday (Oct 23) has been suspended pending further talks.
In a short statement Network Warrington’s interim Managing Director Ann Marie Slavin said: “Following protracted negations held between the management of Network Warrington and members of unite the union, we are pleased to announce that industrial action for Wednesday, October 23 has been suspended pending a union branch meeting on Monday October 28.”
Recent talks which included an offer of a £100 December bonus payment and an additional days holiday failed to end to strike action last week.
Union members have implemented a series of one day strikes over the past month over a 12 month pay freeze implemented following a down turn in passenger numbers and rising fuel costs.
Picture shows Union members on strike action
2 Comments
This is the first year that they have not had a pay rise. Given the financial situation of the bus company at least they have a job. I have had my first pay rise in a number of years , as a public sector worker pay rises were frozen. Bus numbers have fallen as the service has declined and is unreliable.
The Local Government workers’ pay freeze is set to extend until 2015. Many private sector workers haven’t had pay rises, some have actually had to renegotiate their terms of employment and had their pay reduced into the bargain. Workers at Network Warrington, as Sharon says, after many years of regular rises were to have a pay freeze for one year. But as a result of their unwarranted, unpopular and self destructing strike actions they were offered another £100 this year plus additional days holiday. If the union branch meeting on next Monday rejects this offer NW workers will rightly be considered in a very poor light by those who use their buses as well the public at large.