Update on strike action in South Yorkshire

Phil Medlicott, Managing Director for Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: “Today we’ve had discussions with Unite union to put forward a further offer to reach a settlement to end the strikes affecting bus services in South Yorkshire. Unfortunately this offer has been rejected and strikes will now go ahead.

“We know that our employees deserve a good pay rise and have now offered employees an increase to the hourly pay rate of 6% with a further 3% in the next 6 months, a total offer of 9% on the current pay rate within 6 months. We feel that this is more than fair and that Unite union is now being unreasonable by not taking this offer back to members to vote upon. Strike action is in no-body's interests.

“We remain open to continuing discussions with the union and would urge them to call off this unnecessary action which will cause untold inconvenience to local communities and will hit the pockets of our employees and their families.”