WINNING AT STAGECOACH

4 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2021 :: RMTnews Following the threat of strike action and actually taking action short of striking at various locations RMT members have won improved offers across Stagecoach bus operations. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that Stagecoach bus workers had shown the way by campaigning on pay and conditions. “We have forced that company into making significantly improved offers on the back of successful strike ballots and setting dates for action. “It was very pleasing to note that this success was on the back of co-ordination between Stagecoach companies – not taking them on piecemeal,” he said. Members at Stagecoach East Midlands (Mansfield and Worksop) took action short of a strike in the form of an overtime and rest day working ban. However, the union called off planned full strike action after the company agreed a one-off payment of £400, a pay increase of 1.8 per cent from May 2021 and a further increase of 2.7 per cent from the point of acceptance of the offer. Sickness and holiday pay would also increase in line with the offer and the anniversary for pay talks would be May 2022. Stagecoach South West (Exeter, Barnstaple and Torbay) also agreed a new package including 2.2 percent pay increase from May followed by a further 2.2 per cent from the week after the deal is accepted. This also included the same rise for cleaners and lower paid staff, a £400 one off payment, a reduction in the working week of two hours introduced by 30 minutes each year with no loss of pay and the retention of all current terms and conditions. Members at Stagecoach Yorkshire (Chesterfield) were preparing to take strike action when a revised offer included a £400 payment to all full-time employees for 2020, a 1.8 per cent increase across all rates from May 2021 and a further 2.7 per cent increase from date of acceptance and normal pay negotiations will resume in May 2022. Stagecoach South West (Plymouth, Tavistock and Dartmouth) made an improved offer to the driver basic rate to be uplifted from £10 per hour to £11.80 per hour from October 2021 and a £300 one off payment. Negotiations are ongoing at Stagecoach operations at Winchester, Andover and Basingstoke for bus workers organised within RMT. WINNING AT STAGECOACH Union wins improved offers on Stagecoach bus contracts following coordinated campaigning WINNING: RMT regional organiser Barry West with RMT negotiators in Torbay WINNING: RMT regional organiser Barry West with RMT negotiators in Exeter