Bristol First Bus Strikes: What to Expect and How Somerset Services Will Be Affected

Drivers at two of the three First Bus depots in Bristol are set to strike from Tuesday through Friday, following the rejection of a revised pay offer. This four-day industrial action threatens to bring Bristol’s road network to a standstill, impacting nearly every bus route across the city.

The dispute involves around 600 drivers at the Lawrence Hill and Hengrove depots, members of the Unite union, who declined a ‘full and final’ pay offer presented by First Bus last Friday. While managers and union representatives continue last-minute talks to avert the strike, services are expected to be severely disrupted if no resolution is reached.

Importantly, bus services outside Bristol— including Bath and North East Somerset, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, and the wider North Somerset area—will continue to operate unaffected. Additionally, First Bus’s ‘Badgerline’ routes running from the Bus and Coach Station, including the Metrobus network and commuter routes from Thornbury and Yate to Bristol, will maintain normal operation throughout the strike period.

However, most regular Bristol city services, including the A1 Airport Flyer connecting Bristol Airport, Temple Meads, and the bus station, and university routes U1 and U1N, will face reduced service or cancellations. This comes at a critical time as the city experiences one of its busiest weeks of the year, with students returning to universities, schools well underway, and the first autumn storms pushing many commuters back into cars. Increased demand on the Metrobus and limited rail services will strain public transport options, while road congestion is expected to worsen significantly.

The strike centers primarily on pay, with Unite accusing First Bus of putting profits over people. Negotiations over the summer failed to reach agreement on a satisfactory pay rise. Initially, a strike was planned for early September but postponed after a new offer was made, which two depots have now rejected. Driver pay has been a long-standing issue amid driver shortages, Brexit-related hiring complications, and competition from the freight sector where wages are higher.

First Bus Managing Director Doug Claringbold expressed disappointment over the ongoing dispute but remains hopeful for a solution. First Bus has published revised timetables for the strike days and urges passengers to check for updates online before travelling. Meanwhile, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham stresses the company’s profitability and urges First Group to reconsider its offer, highlighting the significant disruption the strike will cause.

The strike is scheduled to run from 16 to 19 September. With 600 drivers involved, passengers should anticipate widespread cancellations and delays for city services during this period.