(29 Oct 2023, 5:32 pm)Dan wrote I don’t often reply in this thread, but I wanted to quickly highlight that by increasing wages by £1/hr, you’re adding at least £3 million to the wage bill at GNE.
When the company’s published accounts already show them losing £millions, I’m not sure how they could sustain adding another £3m of cost (on top of the £4m the company has already tabled and has been rejected).
I’m off to pour myself a large glass of red…
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The companies revenue from fares is £65m though in 2022. These strikes are going to lose customers long term as much as 5% easily which is this £3m. I get the argument that giving more money when making a loss is stupid, which of course it is, but the constant strikes and service cancellations, buses are never going to recover.
Obviously I don't have the financial stats it but if these cancellations keep going, people will continue to avoid buses and long term it will be more damaging and no btw I don't agree with the £15+ that is stupid but I have heard on another forum that the union proposed a deal for £14.81 which would've ended all this which GNE rejected.
I know Ben Maxfield get's a lot of criticism and he probably deserves it but this imo all stems back to utterly crazy idea under the past management to slash fares across the board. Absolutely ridiculous decision which backfired big time especially considering Arriva and Stagecoach have both recovered to similar levels, and arguably better in some areas like Ashington but didn't intentionally decide to slash it's fares.