ROTHERHAM’S bus strike is off after union leaders and transport bosses at Stagecoach sealed a new pay deal.
New pay rates have now been agreed for a total of 685 drivers in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.
Members of the Unite union, who held more than three weeks of strikes over the issue, have voted overwhelmingly to accept Stagecoach pay offers covering Ecclesfield and Holbrook depots in Sheffield, as well as proposals covering staff based at Barnsley and Rawmarsh.
The pay deal will see drivers pay increase by over ten per cent and by more than £1 an hour – those in Rotherham will now earn £11.91 an hour.
Unite regional officer Phil Bown said: “This result shows what can be achieved through strong union organisation, which is why we urge workers looking to improve their pay and conditions to join Unite and to get their colleagues to do the same.”
Phil Medlicott, managing director for Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “We're very pleased to have reached agreement with Unite on new pay deals for our employees across all of our Yorkshire depots.
“We have been 100 per cent committed to delivering pay increases for our people, and these packages recognise the valuable contribution they make to our business and our local communities.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience during recent disruption to their services. We are pleased that our teams can now focus fully on delivering the important public transport links local people need.”