UPCOMING strike action could force buses off the road in Glasgow, a union has revealed.
Unite has confirmed that Bidvest Noonan workers contracted to clean and refuel buses for First Bus are set to strike in a dispute over pay.
More than 100 cleaners, fuellers and shunters contracted to work in First Glasgow and First Aberdeen bus depots will be striking, after previously rejecting a two per cent pay offer backdated to 2022.
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It is claimed that wages at the company start at £9.62 per hour. From April, £10.42 per hour will be the national minimum wage.
Meanwhile, Unite revealed that Bidvest Noonan made a profit of £9.5m for the year ending June 2022, up from £5.96m in year ending June 2021.
According to the union, with cleaning, refuelling, and re-charging of the electric buses not carried out on the days of industrial action, buses may have to be taken off the roads for safety and re-charging reasons.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Bidvest Noonan’s pay offer is totally unacceptable. This company is making millions and can well afford to pay fairly. It has no excuse for not doing so.
“Quite simply, these buses couldn’t operate without our members who have Unite’s full support as they stand up for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The strike action will take place at the Glasgow and Aberdeen depots from 3pm on Wednesday, March 1, concluding at 6am on Saturday, March 4.
Bus depots to be impacted by strike action include Glasgow Road, Blantyre, Cathcart Road, Glasgow, South Street, Glasgow, Birch Meadow, Dumbarton, Castlehill Road, Wishaw, and King Street, Aberdeen.
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The Bidvest Noonan contract workers were outsourced by First Bus in Glasgow in 2016, and then December 2020 in Aberdeen.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer, said: “The strike action by Unite members working for Bidvest Noonan will lead to First Bus having to take buses off the roads in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
“The two per cent offer backdated to last year is totally unacceptable to our members. This dispute is a problem of First Bus’s own making because they outsourced these workers years ago. Unite is demanding that they be brought back in-house and paid fairly.”
A spokesperson for First Bus Scotland said: "We understand Bidvest Noonan workers have been balloted in relation to strike action.
“First Bus is assisting Bidvest Noonan to find an agreement that is mutually beneficial to all.”
Bidvest Noonan has been contacted for comment.
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