National Express West Midlands bus drivers strikes are back on - here’s the start date

Bus strikes in the West Midlands are set to go ahead unless National Express and Unite the union can reach an agreement over an improved pay-offer this weekend.

National Express West Midlands strike action was due to begin on Thursday, March 16, but they were suspended after an the new pay offer from National Express was made to staff.

Unite said they cancelled the strike to allow the new offer to be balloted on by the company’s staff and its members. But an agreement hasn’t been made, with Unite claiming that National Express drivers weren’t able to vote on the latest offer during meetings at their depots.

Unite said they cancelled the strike to allow the new offer to be balloted on by the company’s staff and its members. Unite have said the pay offer was likely to be rejected because ‘it ties workers into a three year pay deal’.

National Express say a vote on an improved offer will still take place on Saturday (18 March), but buses will be running as normal until then. If the strike goes ahead, a limited network will run from 20th March.

Talks will now continue over the weekend to see if an agreement can be reached.

Unite said the pay offer was likely to be rejected because ‘it ties workers into a three year pay deal’. This means that all out indefinite strike action impacting 93 per cent of the West Midlands bus network by 3,100 National Express drivers is expected to begin this Monday.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our members at National Express – attempts at union busting by the company will not change that. They will receive Unite’s complete and utter support during these strikes for a fair pay rise.”