Bus strike on Armed Forces Day “would be disgraceful”

Up to 900 First South Yorkshire drivers are due to walk out next Saturday, June 29, and the following Monday, July 1, in a row with bosses over an “insulting” pay freeze.

With pay talks having stalled, the dispute threatens to hamper hundreds of current and former service personnel, who First have offered the chance to travel for free to Armed Forces Day events.

Ex-soldier Justin Moreman, who served in the Army for 21 years, has called on members of trade union Unite to reschedule its first day of industrial action, which would not affected Stagecoach and Supertram services.

He also appealed for people attending Rotherham’s programme of events to offer lifts to veterans and even offered to co-ordinate a social media page to ensure as many people could attend as possible.

Justin, who called the decision to strike on the celebratory day “disgraceful”, said: “Just three weeks after the successful commemoration of the D-Day landings, our veterans have been tossed to the wayside once again. 

“Many veterans do not drive and rely on the local bus network. 

“Armed Forces Day is a day of remembrance and gratitude for the sacrifice they have made and continue to make in order to protect the UK and its citizens. What a way to repay them!

“I would like to ask the drivers and Unite if they would be willing to move this planned day of action or whether they deliberately chose this date to highlight their cause. 

“If it is the latter then they should be ashamed of themselves. 

“If nothing can be done then I would like to suggest that the people of Rotherham dig deep and show some Dunkirk spirit by offering lifts to get these fine people their day in the sun.

“I last year took my three-year-old son on the bus to his first Armed Forces Day as we were offered free transport.

“This year I will drive down and will offer any veteran who does not have any transport a lift as well.”

Unite announced the two 24-hour strikes last Thursday after more than two-thirds of union members voted to walk out.

But the union hinted this week that it might reconsider the timing of the first strike.

Regional officer Phil Bown said: “Unite has been made aware of the situation relating to Veterans Day (sic). 

“Our shop stewards are meeting at the weekend to consider the implications and we will be making a statement on Monday.”

Justin welcomed the news, saying he supported the drivers’ right to take action over their work conditions but that he hoped they would “see the common sense” in changing the date from Armed Forces Day.

He said he would wait until next Monday’s announcement before deciding whether to set up a social media forum for lifts, which would be publicised online by the Advertiser.

First is asking drivers to agree to a one-year pay freeze, saying they already earn a good wage in comparison to other companies.

Managing director Garry Birmingham said strike action would “cause significant disruption for our customers and only place the business in an even more difficult financial position”.

The transport firm, which said Unite had backed out of planned talks, cited financial difficulties in proposing the freeze earlier this year.

But Unite said First was “cash rich” and pointed out rivals Stagecoach had offered its own staff an above-inflation rise.