Disruption for bus passengers as hundreds of drivers walk out in pay row

Hundreds of bus drivers have started a week-long strike in a dispute over pay. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

Hundreds of bus drivers have started a week-long strike in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Unite union working for Arriva in the North East, based at Darlington, Durham, Redcar, Stockton and Whitby, walked out until Saturday January 12.

North East bus drivers believe they are the second lowest paid Arriva workers in the country. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The bus drivers rejected a revised package before Christmas which Unite said included 75p on the hourly rate over two years in four instalments.

The drivers are seeking an increase of £1 an hour.

Unite official Bob Bolam said the workers believed they were the second lowest paid Arriva drivers in the country.

The union said 650 drivers were involved in the dispute.