GoNorthEast Drivers vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike at Union meeting

Bus drivers of GoNorthEast have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike over unfavourable new working conditions they say amounts to a defacto pay cut

The new conditions proposed to drivers involved a technical pay rise of 9%, but such effectively came with the caveat that they work longer hours, reduce lunch breaks and undermine their personal terms and conditions, making it a reduction in real terms described as “working more, for less.”

At the Unite union meeting yesterday, the drivers voted 98% in favour of a strike.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:

“Go North East should be ashamed of themselves. They’ve failed our members and are failing the public by not coming back to the table with an improved pay offer for workers performing a vital service.”

“Unite will be backing our members to the hilt during their industrial action and their campaign for better pay and conditions.”

Unite regional officer, Dave Telford, added: “Go Ahead can afford to pay their workers properly and fairly and are choosing not to.”

“They are now in the last chance saloon to come back to the table with an improved offer before our members head to the picket line.”