Bus workers across the South West are gearing up for potential strike action as pay disputes mount in the sector. Following Bristol’s first major bus strike in decades, further industrial action looms not just in the city but across Somerset.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union at First South West are set to vote soon on whether to launch a strike campaign. Their key demand is a pay increase to bring hourly wages closer to the RMT’s “modest goal” of £15 per hour.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey highlighted the disparity, stating, “Bus workers at First South West are being left behind while other operators across the region pay more.”
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This dispute echoes wider unrest nationally. Unite union members at Brighton Bus Company and Metrobus Crawley have already announced strikes planned for October 6 and 15 after rejecting a 3.5% pay offer.
The current tensions follow a previous strike just over a year ago, when more than 300 RMT members at First South West took part in a 48-hour walkout. Picket lines were set up in Taunton, signaling deep-rooted dissatisfaction with pay and conditions.
With pay and conditions remaining critical issues, First South West’s bus workers are poised to take further steps to demand fair compensation.