Stagecoach is making pots of money, but loyal drivers are being punished
Sunderland’s bus drivers have announced Christmas strike dates in an ongoing dispute over ‘poverty’ pay.
Stagecoach bus services across Sunderland will grind to a halt on 10 days across November and December, as follows:
5 November
15 – 19 November
23 – 24 December
26- 27 December
Sunderland bus drivers have already taken six strike days in anger at a massive real terms pay cut of just 4 per cent, with 2 per cent to follow later in the year.
The boss of Stagecoach trousered a package worth more than £1.7 million in the financial year ending April 2022, while the regional bus services made an operating profit of £58 million in the same period.
Stuart Gilhespy, GMB Organiser, said:
“It’s not clear why Stagecoach is punishing loyal drivers like this. They’re making pots of money, but want workers to survive on miserly pay and Dickensian working conditions.
“Drivers are doing the only thing they can to make ends meet for their families – withdrawing their labour.
“Instead of continuing to bring misery to their staff and the people of Sunderland, why won’t Stagecoach get round the table and offer a pay deal to help drivers with the cost of living crisis?”
