Is anyone else getting really fed up with the bus driver's strike? I know I am. I'm a regular bus user and as a customer I feel let down. I pay enough each month - £45 to be exact. You all will be aware that every single Monday this month the drivers have refused to work over an argument about pay, causing chaos for those who rely on buses to get around.
Its a difficult one because First Bus made a profit of £134 million so I fully understand why the driver's want a pay rise. However, if First Bus offer that pay rise it is inevitable that this cost will be paid for by passengers and we will lose out yet again. I appreciate that being a bus driver is not the easiest job but I would feel more sympathetic if more of them smiled at passengers, or even acknowledged us at all.
First Bus keep putting their prices up but nobody is seeing any benefits apart from them- just to illustrate this point, in some cases it's actually cheaper to get a taxi now, especially if you're travelling with someone else. I can use both First Bus and Easyride to get to work- I always try to get on the Easyride buses because they are a whole 50p cheaper for the same journey! That money all adds up, especially in a recession.
After numerous talks with Unite, First Bus have made an offer of a pay rise to their drivers. However, Unite representatives feel that this offer does not reflect the amount of profits that First Bus have made and drivers have not accepted it. There is also talk of further strike action next month but the opinions of passengers seem to have been overlooked.
