More than 2,000 Metroline bus drivers in London called off industrial action after accepting an 11% pay rise deal, with a 10% increase on back pay.
The employees, working for the Singapore-based subsidiary Metroline Travel, were originally offered a 4% increase. They then rejected a 10% pay increase and 9% on back pay as advised by trade union Unite, which stated that this was below the real inflation rate that currently stands at 14.2%.
Planned strike action on 8, 9, 15 and 16 December was called off as a result of the workers accepting the most recent improved offer. The strikes were set to impact bus services in North and West London, with drivers at garages in Brentford, Cricklewood, Edgware, Harrow Weald, Holloway, King’s Cross, Lampton, Perivale, Potter’s Bar and Willseden planning to walk out.
A Metroline spokesperson said: “The driver pay dispute has been resolved. The industrial action scheduled for December will no longer take place.”
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “This is a significant victory for our members at Metroline who by standing together and being prepared to take industrial action have secured a greatly improved pay offer. This pay deal exemplifies how Unite’s commitment to always prioritise the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is delivering noteworthy financial dividends.”
Laura Johnson, regional officer at Unite, added: “From the outset, Unite members were aware that Metroline could afford a better pay rise than it was offering and once our members announced strike action, fresh negotiations were held and an improved offer was made.”
Metroline’s parent organisation ComfortDelGro posted six-month earnings of $118.7 million (£97.5 million) earlier this year.