Further Stagecoach bus strikes are set to take place in Cambridge this month as Unite and Stagecoach remain in dispute over pay
As Unite and Stagecoach East continue their ongoing dispute over pay, strikes have been leaving regular bus passengers in Cambridge in limbo. The dispute has been ongoing since December, with strikes happening before Christmas in addition to three more in January.
A strike has already taken place on Janaury 10, with another planned for today (January 19) and a third set to happen on January 24. On these days, Cambridge services will operate on a reduced timetable, except for Cambridge Park & Ride, Busway A, Busway B, 905, Citi 5, and 5A which will operate as normal on a full timetable.
Users of Stagecoach in Cambridge have said that they understand why drivers are going on strike, but feel frustrated at the impact it is going to have.
One resident, Robbie Irish, who uses the bus for longer journeys, said: “The timetable changing will mean more queues and more people waiting for the bus.”
He added: “It’s going to hit pensioners particularly hard during the cold times,” and that it will affect businesses as well “because it will stop people commuting from one place to another.”
Another Stagecoach passenger, Jason Hill, who commutes to work using the bus, said that he “can understand it [the strikes] as I suppose they do a long job.”
Marisa Oliveira, from Cambridge, said: “Some of the buses have a high volume of people and I think it could affect the businesses because I think less people will come during the strikes.”
Marisa also explained how she depends on the bus to get to the hospital, so she makes sure to plan in advance as she “can’t depend on the bus to be on time.”
Managing Director of Stagecoach East, Darren Roe, said: “Despite several meetings since September – and three at ACAS – both parties agreed we were unable to reach a negotiated settlement, and, therefore, mutually agreed that the collective bargaining process, which had been running, was exhausted.
“I was conscious that we have already been successful in reaching pay agreements with our other two depots in Cambridgeshire, and did not want to leave our Cambridge team without a pay increase this year. I wanted our staff to receive an increase in consideration of their hard work.”
Roe also added: “I would encourage those still participating in industrial action to return to work, and, whilst the pay talks are concluded, my door will remain open to the trade union should they wish to come and talk to us.”
