Stagecoach drafts in drivers to beat Rotherham bus strike

BUSES in Rotherham and the Dearne Valley were hit by a strike by Stagecoach staff over pay today.

It is the first of four days of strike action by members of union Unite, with walkouts planned for next Monday and on December 2 and 3.

The union said drivers felt they were the “poor relations” within South Yorkshire.

A new offer was being considered earlier this week but a union official confirmed that Friday’s strike would go ahead.

Unite said it had been in discussion with the company since April, but they had not been able to resolve the issue.

Stagecoach has said it will run a “near-normal” service between 7am and 6pm on strike days and all school services would operate as normal.

Stagecoach said more than 100 relief drivers would be drafted in from other areas to minimise disruption to passengers.

Services in Sheffield and Chesterfield, including route 265 to Barnsley, and those operated by Stagecoach East Midlands in south Rotherham and Doncaster would run as normal, the company said.