Solent First Bus Managing Director speaks about Portsmouth bus strikes

Video: Solent First Bus

Transcript

00:00We'd like to apologise to all of our customers who have been affected by this ongoing industrial

00:05action. We know they rely upon us to get to work and in crucial roles in NHS and education

00:10to get to hospital appointments or to school or to work. This unnecessary action we know

00:15hurts them and we are really keen to find a resolution to this dispute.

00:20Throughout extensive negotiations with Unite which date back to August of last year, we've

00:24been very clear of what can be afforded in the current climate. Our offer over two years

00:29including enhancements means our colleagues will be backdated to August 2024 and given

00:35a good old gesture of £200 each, taking the full offer to over 7.8% over the next two

00:41years. This is a 35.9% increase since 2021 which addresses the cost of living increase

00:48which Unite have requested from us. It's incorrect to suggest that we're offering

00:53our colleagues to work for free. Unite are keen to reinstate some terms and conditions

00:59they traded with us during the pandemic. The value of these was added as an increase

01:04to the hourly rate of pay at the time as part of our drive to protect jobs and keep people

01:08employed at a time when other industries and sectors were experiencing pay cuts and pay

01:12freezes. Neighbouring depots across our business across the south have had their pay claims

01:18settled now at the same terms which makes it harder to understand why Unite and Hoford

01:23continue to choose this course of action. We do however remain fully committed to finding

01:27a resolution with them as soon as possible.