Around 450 Cardiff City Transport Services, also know as Cardiff Bus, workers have voted to accept pay and conditions improvements, resulting in a series of strikes being called off.
Cardiff Bus is the main operator of bus services in Cardiff and the surrounding area including Barry and Penarth.
The workers, who are members of union Unite, will receive a 5.86% backdated pay rise. They will also see further sick pay improvements, with a reduction in unpaid waiting days for sickness and long-term sick pay starting at four weeks at a higher rate, that will be back paid to cover the short-term sick period.
To combat additional issues with driver fatigue and stress due to a lack of proper breaks and long walking times to break facilities, the offer also includes a five minute walking time to guarantee a 45 minute break, as well as a paid 15 minute break for garage workers.
Workers on contracted routes who had different terms and conditions and were expected to work longer hours will also be covered by the agreements.
Sharon Graham, general secretary for Unite, said: “Our members at Cardiff Bus have fought to improve and protect pay and conditions not just for themselves, but for the long-term benefit of the sector in Wales. This shows the power of a union and the hardworking reps should be applauded for their actions.”
Alan McCarthy, Wales regional officer for Unite, added: “Our members at Cardiff Bus have shown that workers must be prepared to act in order to achieve better pay and conditions, particularly in the bus sector. Unite members stood firm in their fight for fair pay, but also to ensure no employee was left with inferior working conditions.
“It’s disappointing that we had to come so close to strike action in order to achieve these very reasonable goals, but as we approach franchising it stands as a stark reminder of the need to standardise pay and conditions across the sector.”
A Cardiff Bus spokesperson said: “Strike action has been called off, all services will continue running as usual.”
