Bus union rejects independent arbitration

UNION bosses involved in the ongoing industrial action at bus company Network Warrington have rejected an offer to go to independent arbitration.
In doing so, they have shown they are prepared to risk the whole future of the company, Network Warrington said today.
Unite the Union are understood to now be planning a three day strike on November 13, 14 and 15.
A spokesperson for the company said: “The Board and executive directors are very concerned about this decision and had hoped that the union would agree to their request to ask ACAS to appoint an independent arbitrator to hear the case of both sides.
“This would involve looking at the company’s current financial position and then making an independent and impartial decision that whatever the outcome, the company is willing to abide with.
“Although arbitration is purely voluntary, both sides must agree in advance that they will abide and accept the arbitrator’s decision. If the process of arbitration is agreed by both parties, industrial action ceases immediately.
“The fact that the trade union committee members at Network Warrington are against this course of action further demonstrates that they are unwilling to bring an end to the dispute, but are prepared to escalate the situation to further industrial action and jeopardise the whole future of the company.
“The company has genuinely explored every opportunity to bring the industrial action to an end.”