Bus drivers in Coventry have
voted to reject the latest pay offer and are to vote on whether to
take industrial action.
It is the second time that the
drivers working for Travel West Midlands have rejected the offer
recommended for acceptance by their union.
Two thirds of the drivers
voted to reject the offer. The TGWU union is now to ballot its members
of strike action.
The proposal from Travel West
Midlands would have equalised pay for drivers who have short company
service.
Within a five-year period this
would have led to an increase of 55 per cent, or £118 a week, and
holiday pay would have been increased.
Drivers serving for a longer
time were offered almost £50 a week over four years, which the
company says is inflation-proofed.
Travel West Midlands Corporate
Affairs Manager Phil Bateman said:
“We
believe that this was, and still is, a good deal. We now look
forward to the trade union meeting with us to discuss the existing
situation.”
