Going North

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Go North East workers at the Percy Main depot on the first day of their seven day strike action across the region (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

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There is mounting anger within the workforce over Unite’s handling of negotiations and their call for a continuous strike. Unite are literally rejecting a deal they themselves proposed. Wild and unfounded claims by the union of ‘paltry pay offers’, and false claims that the company are ‘not coming to the table’ don’t help”. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is appalling behaviour from Go North East. The parent company is awash with cash and yet it is refusing to offer our members a decent pay rise in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

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They said that if the proposal – which also involves some standardisation of working practices across its six depots – is accepted, drivers will be guaranteed a further inflation linked pay increase next year. Read More: Full list of Go North East bus services that will be cancelled during indefinite Unite drivers strike The problem we have got is the offer is just totally derogatory. It wasn't acceptable. They wanted to be able to basically turn all of the depots against each other and start going to each individual depot going forward to change the terms and conditions of employment. We can't accept that, members can't accept that, we need a decent and fair pay rise with no strings attached."

Go North East strike: Engineers walk out week before - BBC Go North East strike: Engineers walk out week before - BBC

Strike action has been voted for by members of Britain's largest trade union Unite. The ballot was 98 per cent in favour of industrial action with nearly an 85 per cent turn out. Unite's General Secretary Sharon Graham has also added her support to the workers in the dispute, saying earlier this week that: " This is appalling behaviour from Go North East. The parent company is awash with cash and yet it is refusing to offer our members a decent pay rise in the middle of a cost of living crisis. I don’t think they are a million miles away from each other. I think a 12-week strike would be devastating for the bus sector and would do long-term damage, I don’t want to see that. Over 1,000 First Glasgow drivers are voting to strike over pay. The Unite members previously rejected a pay offer by 99 percent.Unite regional officer, Dave Telford, added: "Go Ahead can afford to pay their workers properly and fairly and are choosing not to. But more and more now, I feel like I’m forced to take risks that make me uncomfortable because of the time pressures we’re under. Bus workers include drivers, engineers, maintenance workers and depot crews. Which services will be affected by the strike? Go North East business director Ben Maxfield blamed Unite for the new strike action, stating that union representatives walked away from a settlement. The depots that will be affected by the industrial action are: Consett, Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main (North Shields), Sunderland and Washington. What has Unite and Go North East said about the move?