Bus drivers in Blackwood have called off further strike action after winning a pay dispute from employers Stagecoach.

Drivers represented by union Unite and based out of the Cwmbran, Blackwood and Brynmawr depots had wanted a “no strings” pay rise to £10.50 an hour – an increase of just £1 an hour for drivers in Blackwood.

However transport bosses had previously labelled their demands a “fantasy” and unaffordable, but have now relented with a new offer which has been accepted by the drivers through a ballot.

Drivers had been on strike over different periods since October 19 and had threatened to go on continuous action between November 17 and January 10 if they didn’t get the pay rise.

Unite said the new pay offer achieves many of the goals set out by members with the pay increase back-dated to April this year.

Sharon Graham Unite General Secretary said: “This is a tremendous victory for our members at Stagecoach South Wales. They have been completely united throughout the strike.

“As result they have achieved what is a break-through deal, for these workers, of £10.50 an hour. Our union is completely focused on driving up pay and conditions in the sector and this deal is an important statement of our intention to deliver upon this.

All transport operators in Wales need to recognise that we will not accept poverty pay for our members.”

Regional Officer, Alan McCarthy added: “Our members have been inspirational throughout this dispute. Not only have they achieved the £10.50 hourly rate with back pay, they successfully pushed back against cuts to sick pay for some of the longest serving staff.

“This dispute has highlighted the scourge of low pay within the Welsh transport sector. With deregulation coming to an end in Wales, we are calling upon the Welsh Government to use the opportunity to introduce a system of sectoral bargaining. Through this we can end the continuous race to the bottom which has driven down pay rates.”

Pay deal welcomed

Although mainly affecting services out of Blackwood, there has been knock-on disruption to other Stagecoach services because of driver shortages.

The end of the dispute has been welcomed by Plaid Cymru Senedd Members Delyth Jewell and Peredur Owen Griffiths, who both represent the South Wales East region.

Mr Griffiths said: “The drivers were only asking for a modest pay rise. They were forced into taking strike action due to a stubborn company management who were only too happy to pay what drivers in Wales were asking for and more just over the border for their drivers in Bristol.  

“Had the Stagecoach management met the sensible requests of the workforce in the first place then a lot of anguish and hardship would have been prevented for staff and passengers who have had to seek alternative transport for more than a fortnight.”

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s leader and deputy leader have also welcomed the offer to drivers.

In a joint statement Councillors Philippa Marsden and Jamie Pritchard said: “We’re delighted that bus drivers have won their just campaign for fair wages, terms and conditions. We’ve always argued and campaigned for the bus drivers to be paid the modest increase they were asking for, so this is welcome news.”

Blackwood ward councillor Andrew Farina-Childs also welcomed the “fantastic news” and said: “I am really pleased for the bus drivers – who really do deserve this pay rise which I was happy to support.”

Nigel Winter, Managing Director for Stagecoach South Wales, said: “We’re very proud of our team, who do a fantastic job in delivering vital transport connections for local people.  

“We said right from the start that we were committed to getting a settlement to reflect the important role our people play and that also protects the long-term sustainability of the bus network for our customers and communities in South Wales. We’re pleased that through flexibility on both sides, and improvements in productivity, we have reached an agreement that achieves these aims through until April 2023 and that will bring an end to any further strike action.”