(06 Jan 2022, 7:18 pm)Adrian wrote Encourage people to use their own private car instead? I know that isn't the message they'll be wanting to send, but that is exactly what this is doing. The public perception in public transport reliability is already poor, without it hitting a nuclear low.Well Arriva still seem to think £9.30/hr is a reasonable starting rate for drivers. Of course it's a pittance but they know there will always be some desperate enough to work for it, hence they get away with it.
Even if this was planned in advance, doing it with less than 48 hours notice is rash and does not give people the time to plan alternative transport.
I realise that this is not impacting one operator, and that it is industry-wide, but as has been discussed on this forum previously. It's not an issue solely created by the pandemic. There are numerous factors involved, but it's one exacerbated by it.
The industry has struggled to recruit and retain staff for years, and must have spent millions over the years in the process.
In fact, thanks to the Unite union allowing them to bring in a new pay structure unopposed a few years ago, any driver with less than two years service is now earning less than they would have been 6-7 years ago.