Striking workers deserve better deal, says mayor

THE North East mayor has called on bus bosses to come up with a new deal to end summer strike action “as quickly as possible”.

- By DANIEL HOLLAND AND OWEN YOUNGER

Some 600 workers at Stagecoach, including drivers and engineers, began a walkout yesterday after rejecting an offer of a 5% pay rise split over two years.

A second strike day is also scheduled for Thursday.

Trade union Unite has said that Stagecoach’s offer “undervalued” staff in the North East and would not bring them in line with staff earning more for the same jobs in the North West.

The bus operator said its offer was “fair and reasonable” and that the strike, affecting buses running out of depots in the Slatyford and Walkergate areas of Newcastle, would cause “unnecessary disruption”.

Union members originally planned to strike on August 11 and 12, but that was suspended when the company tabled an improved pay offer which was also rejected by the workers.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness told The Chronicle yesterday that Stagecoach should make another improved offer.