Nationwide bus strikes threatened over pay and conditions

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Bus drivers are threatening a series of nationwide strikes in disputes over pay and conditions. Around 7,500 members of Unite the Union are either striking or balloting to take industrial action in areas including Birkenhead, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chorley, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Preston, Stoke and Swindon. Strikes involving 2,000 London United workers in West London, 550 First workers in Bristol, 450 Cardiff Bus workers and 70 Go South West workers in Swindon have already been announced,

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said bus employers everywhere need to get the message loud and clear: driver pay simply does not reflect the stresses and strains of the job. Unite boss Sharon Graham (PA) Fatigue, a lack of toilets, abuse and even assaults are a daily occurrence, she said. Unite will fight tooth and nail for bus workers until wages and conditions improve across the sector.

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