'Enough is enough': North Wales Arriva bus drivers who feel 'undervalued' strike due to pay gap

• North Wales Arriva colleagues gather in Bangor Depot to strike and ask Arriva to be paid the same as drivers in the North West.

Hundreds of bus drivers across north Wales have taken strike action for a "fair pay deal", which could hit Arriva services over the next five weeks.

Unite the Union said members had voted for action due to a current pay differential of £1.81 an hour between Welsh and North West Arriva drivers.

The trade Union will continue its discussion with Arriva Cymru on Tuesday 16th November.

Martin Murphy, from Bangor Arriva Depot believes Welsh drivers are being undervalued by Arriva.

Mr Murphy said, "Arriva colleagues across the North West are being given a 3% pay rise.

"Take into account the North West only work a 37 hour week, whereas we work a 39 hour week.

"Half the time the gap is still getting bigger. It's only fair we do the same job, it's the same company.

"We'd love clarity, you can't treat our North West colleagues differently.

"We don't want to upset passengers, they pay our wages. We will go back to work tomorrow as soon as they put a decent offer on the table."

Strike action by drivers will carry on until an 'acceptable' offer of pay is put forward and accepted by the workforce.

Bus services across North Wales will now face severe disruption.

Drivers working at depots including Amlwch, Bangor, Llandudno, Rhyl and Wrexham, took strike action from Sunday 14 November.

The union said 95% of balloted staff members voted for industrial action, with Welsh workers offered a 29p hourly increase compared with 39p for drivers employed by North West Arriva.

Jo Goodchild, Unite Regional Officer said, "It is welcome news that Arriva Cymru has agreed to reconvene negotiations.

"Hopefully the company have considered their position and will now make a pay offer that is in line with our member’s expectations”.

Arriva said they have worked tirelessly to avoid this strike.

A spokesperson added, "We have consistently come up with new offers, while the trade unions have refused to negotiate. Both parties have now agreed to mediation through Acas.

"We would urge Unite to immediately call off the strike to give mediation a chance to move us forward without causing disruption to customers and the communities we serve."