A strike was due to take place which would have caused major disruption over the Christmas and New Year period
The looming threat of widespread bus strikes across South West Wales has finally been resolved. First Bus Cymru has announced that its latest revised offer has been accepted by staff.
A long-running dispute has seen staff demand a pay award of £15 per hour to bring them in line with Cardiff Bus and Arriva in North Wales.
It was due to affect services in Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan. Drivers, cleaners, engineers, store workers, and administrative staff in depots across Wales were also taking action.
Unite, the trade union for drivers and employees, said a strike was due to take place from December 7 this year until January 21, 2026, unless First could “fix” the situation by revising its offer.
The bus provider has now come up with an offer that has been satisfactory to staff, meaning the threat of huge upheaval over the Christmas and New Year period is now over.
Managing director for First Bus Cymru, Doug Claringbold, said: “We are pleased that the revised offer has been accepted by colleagues and that the threat of further strike action has been lifted.
“This agreement provides certainty for our teams and our customers, and enables us to move forward together.
“Our priority now is to restore confidence and deliver the reliable, consistent services that our communities depend on every day.
“We want to thank our customers for their patience during this period of uncertainty, and we look forward to welcoming back anyone who may have been affected by the recent disruption.”
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