First Bus plan strikes in Chester starting on July 4

Jun 26 2009 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

BUS drivers will strike next Saturday (July 4) bringing Chester’s public transport system to a grinding halt.

Drivers working for First, who operate many city services including park and ride, are unhappy with a pay freeze.

Union Unite, which is seeking a substantial rise, has announced five strike dates with the first running from 11am-1pm on Saturday and an overtime ban starting at midnight that day.

Ken Poole, managing director of First’s Potteries business, said: “This particular form of random industrial action is designed to cause maximum inconvenience and uncertainty to passengers. When drivers go on strike, everyone loses – passengers who can’t get to work or shopping, children who can’t get to school and of course, the drivers will lose pay.”

Mr Poole said strike action by Chester-based drivers followed a period of negotiation but the company “could not justify” a pay increase in the current financial climate.

“We have been working very hard to reduce our costs and any increases in this area can only be recouped through customers paying higher fares.”

Mr Poole found the decision to strike “disappointing” as he understood more crisis talks were scheduled following discussions last Wednesday.

He added: “We are not asking for pay cuts or even job cuts from our bus driving staff. This year we are asking our drivers to join us all and earn this year what they earned last year. This is a much better position than many other employees in very many industries at the current time.”