(07 Jul 2021, 11:55 am)mb134 wrote I'd imagine places like Tesco, while perhaps not having length of service increases, will constantly have supervisory roles etc coming up that will offer a higher rate of pay. For what it's worth, the people I knew at uni who worked there part time said the wages were great, as were the perks that came with the job (and there were some enhanced pay rates, Sundays/BHs spring to mind). Might have changed in the last year or so since they left, but I can't imagine by very much. 

For my current job, I got a 2.5% increase this April as well as a performance based increase last September, but in a company that's done relatively well during the pandemic. I can see why a 4% raise in a company/industry that hasn't faired as well could be problematic.

Aye true like, ah few of my mates worked in them and absolutely hated it mind don't think they minded the wages more managers who didn't have a clue what they're doing.

Yeah your right though in fairness but it's what happens when your below what should be paying for years I guess and it's starting to show in glory. No doubt when one company goes on strike the rest will follow like sheep.

(07 Jul 2021, 2:51 pm)L469 YVK wrote And that's where GNE would struggle if they took the same approach as Arriva and didn't invest or at least make a half decent attempt in the current climate.

Totally understand the wage debate. Drivers have their thoughts and so do GNE/GAG but at the end of the day, the "pot" used to improve customer offerings is aimed to help grow the company and potentially give the drivers the pay that they deserve going forward.

I'm not sure there's really that much to debate really if you can't pay your staff the living wage then you shouldn't be trading it's as simple as that. Not sure why you always defend GNE unless your David Brown (CEO) who paid himself £558,000 last year and £1,269,000 the year before or Eddie Brian who paid himself £320,000 last year as these are the people your defending here not the local staff.

Bus drivers are humans with families who have kids and mortgages to pay, anyone who is saying they shouldn't be paid a proper wage really have their priorities in life wrong imo. It's literally a battle to the bottom and your letting them get away with it while the topdogs at the top are living in mansions and paying thereselves dividends through a pandemic whereas the staff at the bottom potentially are struggling to pay for their house and put food on the table. This applies to all bus companies and is another really which shows why privitisation as it currently is doesn't work at all.

Painting berries on a side of a bus is really irrelevant here.