(21 Jul 2021, 11:07 am)CookieMonster If you think 2% is £8 per week don't become an accountant.

(22 Jul 2021, 6:50 am)WHEATSHEAF1 I’ve just read this and had a bit of a chuckle to myself, as a former driver at more than one of the big three, I’ve been through pay talks and voted on the matter. I have an interest in the industry, but to have the proper “bus [removed]” being so derisory towards the drivers that make your bus [removed] possible is disgusting. Yeah they want more than is being offered but which unionised industry accepts the first pay offer. If they feel they have a bigger value than is being offered why not go for it. Just out of interest how much did your benefits go up, to enable you to be standing at the metro centre with your [removed] and your camera in the other?

(22 Jul 2021, 9:01 am)Adrian Not sure if you're reading the same thread then, because even though one or two are questioning it, the majority of other commenters are questioning the company. But a bit disappointing that you choose to dive straight in with ridiculous and childish insults, rather than making reasoned points in response. 

I've taken the liberty to tone down your post.

(14 Sep 2021, 10:48 am)Train8261 Happened again 

https://www.facebook.com/1544703192456160/posts/2906011722991960/?sfnsn=scwspmo

(14 Sep 2021, 11:04 am)Ambassador Bit of a no-win situation here.

- implement an immediate wage rise which forces costs up which forces pricing up which puts off the passengers you need to build confidence in and attract.

- Do nothing, suffer industrial action or lose drivers and lower the confidence that your passengers have in the bus network who then seek alternative travel. Those leisure passengers won't give you a second chance.

There's a sense of turkeys voting for Christmas with this attitude from the Unions.

(14 Sep 2021, 11:04 am)Ambassador Bit of a no-win situation here.

- implement an immediate wage rise which forces costs up which forces pricing up which puts off the passengers you need to build confidence in and attract.

- Do nothing, suffer industrial action or lose drivers and lower the confidence that your passengers have in the bus network who then seek alternative travel. Those leisure passengers won't give you a second chance.

There's a sense of turkeys voting for Christmas with this attitude from the Unions.

(14 Sep 2021, 11:22 am)Storx Jesus blaming the unions, the staff are underpaid. The 3.2% once you account for the NI increase and inflation won't be an increase at all and that's ignoring the inflation for last year aswell when a year was skipped.

It's baffling the love for corporates in suits on here at times who don't care about anyone bar the dividend they can get at the end of year which is kept by keeping staff wages as low as they can, even if they're below the living wage.

The third option is have a happy work force who are happy to work for you with an increased wage and actually stay in their job thus less training needed since you don't have a massive turnover. At the same time you have happy drivers who provide customer service beyond what they need to, offering the right tickets, saying hello when passengers board buses and going beyond their working hours doing overtime because their proud of their job all resulting in a better passenger experience. Similar could be said behind the scenes with staff who go beyond what they need to, go that extra step in cleaning and fixing buses which all is a better experience. It's better than the current grumpy drivers who want out, buses which normal times are absolutely manky and I can't comment on the engineering staff but there's a lot of breakdowns (but don't want to blame that on them).

(14 Sep 2021, 11:22 am)Storx Jesus blaming the unions, the staff are underpaid. The 3.2% once you account for the NI increase and inflation won't be an increase at all and that's ignoring the inflation for last year aswell when a year was skipped.

It's baffling the love for corporates in suits on here at times who don't care about anyone bar the dividend they can get at the end of year which is kept by keeping staff wages as low as they can, even if they're below the living wage.

The third option is have a happy work force who are happy to work for you with an increased wage and actually stay in their job thus less training needed since you don't have a massive turnover. At the same time you have happy drivers who provide customer service beyond what they need to, offering the right tickets, saying hello when passengers board buses and going beyond their working hours doing overtime because their proud of their job all resulting in a better passenger experience. Similar could be said behind the scenes with staff who go beyond what they need to, go that extra step in cleaning and fixing buses which all is a better experience. It's better than the current grumpy drivers who want out, buses which normal times are absolutely manky and I can't comment on the engineering staff but there's a lot of breakdowns (but don't want to blame that on them).

(14 Sep 2021, 1:40 pm)Ambassador It's the reality of the current situation and the public attitude, nobody wants to pay more than they do now.  

The Living Wage outside of London is currently £9.50 which GNE pay above. Average Pay in manual and entry level office jobs is around the £10 level in this region, slightly less in some retail environments. Very few people have had pay rises, those that do won't have had anything inflation busting. Doesn't mean it's right but its the reality. 

The public have already indirectly kept the industry and these jobs going through furlough and support grants on top of fares - there's absolutely no appetite to support more, so yes, unions should be more realistic. Allow the economy to recover now - reap the benefits following that.

(14 Sep 2021, 2:14 pm)morritt89 There may well be pay grades above £9.50 but I'm only 9.04 per hour which is well under that....

Not sure what managers get paid though as it's never disclosed. Pay in the industry as a whole is bad not just GNE so maybe if one operator upped pay and conditions then they would attract more staff and probably staff from other companies and I would put my pension on other operators upping pay and conditions to try and win back drivers.

(14 Sep 2021, 1:40 pm)Ambassador It's the reality of the current situation and the public attitude, nobody wants to pay more than they do now.  

The Living Wage outside of London is currently £9.50 which GNE pay above. Average Pay in manual and entry level office jobs is around the £10 level in this region, slightly less in some retail environments. Very few people have had pay rises, those that do won't have had anything inflation busting. Doesn't mean it's right but its the reality. 

The public have already indirectly kept the industry and these jobs going through furlough and support grants on top of fares - there's absolutely no appetite to support more, so yes, unions should be more realistic. Allow the economy to recover now - reap the benefits following that.

(14 Sep 2021, 4:22 pm)deanmachine So the drivers are all off to drive HGVs instead. How are you going to attract new members of staff when they can go off to drive goods vehicles for double the money? Don't think it's the unions that should be more realistic.