The strike will take place across five days over the festive period
Everything you need to know about upcoming Stagecoach strikes
- Cambridge residents face severe travel disruption as around 200 Stagecoach workers plan industrial action during the Christmas period. The strikes involve both drivers and engineers represented by the Unite union.
- The workers will walk out on five specified days during the festive season: December 17, 20, 22, 24, and 27. These dates fall just before and after Christmas Day, which will affect holiday travel.
- The dispute centres on the Stagecoach workforce rejecting a pay deal that included a reduction in overtime rates. Workers would see their overtime rates fall by 12 per cent on weekdays and by 20 per cent over weekends and Bank Holidays.
- Unite argues that Stagecoach can afford to offer a better pay deal without cutting overtime rates. The union has given its full support to the strike action taken by the Cambridge workers.
- In the year leading up to April 2024, Stagecoach made operating profits of £97.3 million on total sales of £1.6 billion. The union points to these financial results to support its claim that the company can maintain existing pay rates.
- Unite regional officer Mark Plumb claimed that Stagecoach is “entirely responsible for the disruption” that passengers will experience. He said that the company has chosen not to maintain overtime rates despite its financial ability to do so.
- The union warned that the current industrial action could escalate further if the pay dispute is not resolved with an acceptable offer from the company. It said Stagecoach needs to table a satisfactory proposal to avoid further disruption.
- Bus passengers in Cambridge who plan on using the services during this festive period should make alternative travel arrangements. The scheduled walkouts are expected to cause a major impact on services across the city.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Cambridge to face travel disruption as Stagecoach workers go on strike
