THERE is set to be disruption to bus services right across the region as drivers have this week voted on strike action over a dispute on pay.

Drivers across a number of Stagecoach depots including in Stockton, Hartlepool and South Shields are set to strike over a number of days in November and December.

Unite the Union has confirmed more than 800 drivers, engineers, cleaners and managers at Stagecoach North East voted in favour of strike action as plans were revealed.

It comes as The Northern Echo previously reported the company had faced accusations over "divide-and-rule" tactics on pay at its depots.

Read more: Bus drivers set to vote on industrial action over pay

The company, which runs services across Teesside and Tyne & Wear, was criticised for paying a higher hourly rate at some depots, leaving others with less take home pay.

But confirming plans for twelve days of strikes across depots at the same time, Unite described the offer as "miserable" as it said 92 percent voted in favour of striking and 94 percent for an overtime ban.

'A miserable offer'

Sharon Graham, General Secretary at Unite, said: “Nine out of ten members on an extensive ballot voted for strike action on Stagecoach’s miserable offer.

"The Stagecoach board should understand that Unite is ready for a relentless campaign.

“Unite members all over the UK are voting for industrial action right now over the company’s ‘penny pinching’ on pay, serving notice that the union more than ever is ready to fight to defend jobs pay and conditions.”

The union previously said that the company had negotiated pay "depot by depot," leading to a discrepancy in pay between

Mark Sanderson, regional coordinating officer at Unite, said: “Our members have overwhelmingly shown that they will not put up with management negotiating depot by depot in future.

"This has resulted in Unite members driving for Stagecoach in Newcastle being paid a higher hourly rate than those working at South Shields and Sunderland. Teesside drivers are paid less than all the other drivers in Stagecoach North East. 

'The ball is in their court'

“However, this is the same company, the same managing director, the same regional pot of money, the same job.

“Other firms in the North East, such as Arriva and Go North East, have seen fit to offer more than Stagecoach’s miserly two per cent, which is made to look even more pathetic with the latest RPI inflation figure soaring to 4.9 per cent this month."

Dates of strike action

Provided the company does not intervene, 24 hour strikes will take place on November 8, 10, 12, 16, 18. 20, 22, 24, 26 , 30 and on December 2 and 4.

Unite has said depots on Teesside, in Stockton and Hartlepool, will be on a continuous overtime ban and on strike on those dates.

Meanwhile depots in the north of the region in Newcastle and South Shields will also be taking industrial action.

Mr Sanderson apologised for any disruption caused but said the reason for disruption lay "firmly" with the bus company.

He said: “We apologise in advance to the travelling public, who use these services, for any disruption this action will cause, but the reason for the disruption lies firmly with Stagecoach management.

"We are available for regional pay discussions with the management to resolve this dispute - the ball is very much in their court.”

What Stagecoach North East has said

In response to today's announcement, the company said it believes a deal can still be reached with the union in a bid to prevent disruption to communities.

In a statement, it said that it had already agreed a pay deal with drivers in Sunderland under the GMB Union, but that Unite had refused to reach an agreement at depots in Stockton, Hartlepool, Newcastle and South Shields.

Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East, said: "Stagecoach has reached agreements with Unite in many other parts of the country, and with the GMB union for Sunderland drivers, and there is no reason why an agreement cannot be reached here in the North East. 

"We are committed to working constructively with Unite to deliver pay proposals that are fair to our people, and which also ensure the long-term sustainability of the bus network for local communities at a time when passenger numbers are significantly below the level needed to cover the costs of running services. 

“We are open to continuing talks with Unite and we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached with local union representatives." 

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