Thanks, just found a link with the help of google. The report suggest that was the first full fare review for 2 years, so that doesn’t seem unreasonable. The larger operators tend to have an annual review, usually linked to their budgeting process.
STV now has the story…
McGill's Buses workers vote to strike over pay dispute
Around 50 Unite the Union members will take industrial action on three days.
Strike: The workers will take action over pay. Matt Davis (CC BY 2.0) / Cropped
McGill's Buses workers in Renfrewshire are to strike over pay.
Around 50 Unite the Union members - which includes drivers, shunters and labourers - will take action on November 26 and December 2 and 9 at the Inchinnan and Johnstone depots.
The workers also voted for a continuous overtime ban.
Unite claim the dispute centres on ex-Arriva staff being paid between 8% to 14% less than their McGill's counterparts as a result of a transfer in 2011.
The transferred members have remained on Arriva Scotland West contracts and have allegedly been "subjected to successive pay freezes since the transfer, while the pre-existing McGill workers through several pay increases have now shot ahead of the ex-Arriva staff".
Announcing the move on Tuesday, Kenny Jordan, Unite regional industrial officer, said: "The pay catch-up between the ex-Arriva workers and the McGill's workers due to the transfer in 2011 was achieved in early 2017.
"However, this has now caused a significant pay differential because ex-Arriva staff are now being paid between 8% and 14% less than their co-workers. The tables have now turned.
"Unite's members who previously worked for Arriva have been extremely patient and accepted that McGill's rates had to catch up.
"However, this position has been used as a cover by management to suppress the wages of around 50 of our members for eight years which is not acceptable.
"The strong mandate we have received for industrial action is a reflection of the anger and injustice felt by the workers resulting in a series of days of action beginning from November 26."
McGill's Buses has been contacted for comment.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1442302-mcgill-s-buses-workers-vote-to-strike-over-pay-dispute/
The reports suggest they’ve been able to move to the different pay rates at any time, but didn’t/don’t want to accept the different duty parameters etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if the drivers concerned are all on relatively cushy duties, that they’d have to give up if they want more money.
SPT changed the terms for supplied vehicles in the middle of last year such that at the end of a contract period the vehicle becomes the responsibility of the operator and doesn't get returned to SPT. The minutes of the May 18 Operations committee contain the relevant details.
Indeed, I was just coming to report the same… funnily enough, Mr Roberts is also tweeting it.
Paisley Daily Express said:McGill's bus strike called off after 11th-hour crisis talks
Unite said they were confident that a settlement could be reached and axed three planned days of 24-hour strikes.
By Andrea Lambrou 15:36, 25 NOV 2019
McGill's Bus depot Inchinnan (Image: Paisley Daily Express)
McGill’s staff halted strike action planned for today after 11th-hour crisis talks with company bosses.
Unite called off three days of industry action expected today, December 2 and December 9, after emergency talks started to show progress.
Drivers, shunters and labourers were due to walk out over a pay dispute affecting the company’s ex-Arriva staff.
Union reps said former Arriva workers were being paid eight to 14 per cent less than their McGill’s counterparts.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) facilitated a meeting with the union and McGill’s bosses yesterday in an effort to resolve the pay row.
They will now take part in further discussions in the hope of reaching a settlement.
Kenny Jordan, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Following discussions through Acas, Unite are confident that a settlement can be reached.
“This, therefore, removed the need for industrial action.”
The dispute comes as a result of a transfer in 2011.
Around 50 transferred members have remained on Arriva Scotland West contracts and been subjected to successive pay freezes, while the pre-existing McGill’s workers, through several pay increases, have now shot ahead of the ex-Arriva staff.
Earlier this month, Unite told the Express members had requested a review but the firm was “adamant” that parity would only be achieved if ex-Arriva staff changed their contracts.
Banishing cruel bogus callers is a team effort
However, staff were unwilling to give up agreements in their current contracts, including a better sick pay scheme.
The union maintains that former Arriva staff have been lagging behind on pay.
After voting for strike action, Mr Jordan told the Express: “Unite’s members who previously worked for Arriva have been extremely patient and accepted that McGill’s rates had to catch up.
“However, this position has been used as a cover by management to suppress the wages of around 50 of our members for eight years which is not acceptable.
“The strong mandate we have received for industrial action is a reflection of the anger and injustice felt by the workers.”
McGill’s management would not comment at this stage but a spokesman told the Express that bus services were expected to run as scheduled.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/mcgills-bus-strike-called-after-20957488
Is that not fairly standard practice away from the larger depots of the major group operators?
