http://www.route-one.net/articles/Employees/Dorset_strike_drags_on
First has told Unite that First Hampshire and Dorset is 'in dire financial straits'.
First has told Unite that First Hampshire and Dorset is 'in dire financial straits'.
Another sell off on the way?First’s efforts at last week’s talks have been blasted as “a PR exercise” by Unite Regional Officer Bob Lanning.
“Talks proved fruitless as it soon became apparent that management were engaged in a PR exercise and had no intention of negotiating in an adult fashion,” says Mr Lanning, who adds that First has told Unite that the Hampshire and Dorset business is in “dire financial straits.”
The union says that it asked to see figures to back up the claim, but First was unable to provide them.
“This was an unsubtle PR stunt designed to put Unite in a bad light. It was not a genuine attempt to solve this eight-month dispute that is beginning to hit the tourist trade in Bridport and Weymouth,” says Mr Lanning. Unite also claims that First UK Bus is a “very profitable company”. It returned an operating margin of 6% in the year to 31 March.
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