Huddersfield bus strikes called off as drivers get better pay deal
Bus strikes which were set to cause havoc across Huddersfield in February and March have been suspended after the drivers received an improved pay offer.
Around 170 bus drivers in Huddersfield were set to go on strike between February 4 and February 16, as well as between February 24 and March 9. It came after the drivers were offered a pay deal which would have seen their pay rise to £15.43 an hour from April 2025.
However, the Unite union said other First drivers in West Yorkshire were already being paid more than £15 an hour since mid-2024, along with the wages for other bus companies in Huddersfield.
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In addition, the rejected pay deal - including tying the drivers into a pay agreement backdated to April 2024 and ending in 2026 - the union argued would leave their pay lagging behind their colleagues. Meanwhile, First defended its "generous pay offer" and encouraged Unite to urge its drivers to accept the deal.
Now, Unite says the bus strikes have been suspended as a new and improved pay offer was put forward. The industrial action has now been suspended to allow the 170 bus drivers to vote on the new offer.
Unite regional officer Darren Rushworth said: "Following an improved offer from First West Yorkshire, Unite has suspended strikes in order to ballot its members on the new offer."