First Bus workers in Glasgow call off strikes after securing 'inflation-beating' 5% pay win

First Bus Glasgow workers have called off strike action after securing a 5% pay win.

Unite the Union confirmed on Tuesday that around 50 First Bus cleaners, fuellers and shunters in Glasgow agreed to accept a last-minute enhanced pay offer.

Workers had earlier unanimously backed industrial action and were due to strike from January 13 to 17, however, action was suspended to allow a ballot on the offer to take place.

Unite called the new 5% pay deal an “inflation-beating pay win” and said the offer was “overwhelmingly” backed by Unite’s membership.

“Unite’s members have secured a pay win at First Glasgow after standing firm,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

“It was only the threat of strike action which ensured the company came back to the negotiating table with an enhanced offer. Unite continues to drive up the jobs, pay and conditions of bus workers across Glasgow.”

The bus workers and cleaners based at the Caledonia, Scotstoun, Blantyre, and Overtown bus depots clean and refuel buses for First Bus.

Without the cleaning, refuelling and re-charging of First Glasgow’s fleet, buses across Glasgow would have been taken off the roads for safety, cleanliness and re-charging reasons.

Unite industrial officer Graham McNab said: “We are pleased that the pay dispute has been successfully resolved. First Glasgow ultimately had to listen to the workers who simply wanted a fair and reasonable pay offer, which they got in the end after showing the company that they were fully prepared to fight to get it.”

Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, Duncan Cameron, said: “We are pleased that bus workers and cleaners at our Glasgow depots voted to accept our pay offer.

“We have always committed to working with Unite to agree a settlement and are delighted to finally be able to award a pay increase to this valued group of staff.

“We will now continue to focus on providing an excellent service and journey experience for our customers across the city, such as the launch this week of Glasgow’s first 24-hour bus service on our 77 route.”