First Cymru (UNITE) Strike Calendar

Hundreds of bus workers at First Cymru in South Wales are dramatically escalating their strike action in a row with their employer over pay. Workers are furious at the rates of pay and the attempts by First Cymru to refuse to pay back-pay from the pay anniversary. Strikes will now take place from 20 November continuously until 21 January.

Drivers feel they have been left with little choice but to escalate strike action given the refusal of First to negotiate in a reasonable manner. The continued withholding of agreed back pay and the £50 “bung payment” the company offered to workers to break the own picket line has greatly increased the anger and frustration. Drivers are asking for a reasonable rate of pay that takes the current cost of living and inflation into account.

Bus strikes are set to begin across Wales as workers at First Cymru have rejected the latest pay offer from the company. Unite members voted heavily to reject the new offer tabled by the employer, which had resulted in the good will suspension of strike action initially planned for October 22. However, members have overwhelmingly rejected the offer which still withheld members’ back pay.

Strike action declared for the 30 and 31 of October, and 1 and 2 of November will now go ahead, causing significant disruption to the bus network within South West Wales. Additional strike action declared for November 5, 6, 7 and 8 will also take place, and members have indicated a willingness to escalate this dispute with further action throughout the Christmas period.

Planned strikes at bus company First Cymru across south and west Wales have been partially suspended following a new offer from the employer. Strikes were due to begin on 22 October and were in three, weekly, waves of action. The first week of strike action (22-25 October) has been called off to allow a ballot to take place on the new and amended offer from First Cymru. Remaining action (30 Oct – 2 Nov and 5-8 Nov) is still planned to take place should the offer be rejected.

Hundreds of bus workers across Wales are to take strike action this month after First Cymru refused to offer a back dated pay rise. Drivers, cleaners, engineers, stores workers and administrative staff in depots across Wales will be walking out for four days in October with the threat of more strikes if First Cymru, part of First Group, continue to try and short-change essential workers. First Cymru already pay some of the lowest wages in the industry. Members of Unite rejected a five per pay rise because the employer was trying to withhold 60 per cent of owed back pay. The company also pays new recruits an even lower wage for 12 months creating a two-tier workforce that sows unhappiness among staff.