Going North

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Go North East had offered a 10.3% pay rise, plus a guaranteed above-inflation pay increase next year too, but that proposal was rejected by 81% of workers who took part in a union ballot last week. Unite has pressed for a 13% increase, but has also complained that drivers at Go North West currently earn an hourly wage more than 20% higher than their North East counterparts. Read More: Full list of Go North East bus services that will be cancelled during indefinite Unite drivers strike the direction to the right of a person facing the sunset; direction of the North Pole from any other point on the earth's surface: the needle

Go North East bus strike called off as pay rise is agreed - BBC Go North East bus strike called off as pay rise is agreed - BBC

They’ve put us under so much pressure. I’ve got an excellent driving record—I haven’t had any incidents in over ten years. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! Unite general secretary Sharon Graham last week accused Go North East of “betraying” its staff due to “stubbornness, refusing to pay a decent wage to their workers”. Go North East business director Ben Maxfield said the operator was “baffled” by the overwhelming ‘no’ vote and that the company had met “each and every one” of the union’s demands.The strike action means that Go North East services will not run - except for contracted school services. There is "continuous" strike action also planned from October 28. • Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East with our free newsletter

Go North East bus strike: How long will disruption last - BBC

I want to see people coming together in the interests of bus users, many of whom are elderly and on concessionary fares, many of whom are in low-paid work – I don’t want to see them suffer. What I want to see is the union and Go North East, who I don’t think are a million miles apart, coming together to get a sensible deal for the future.” They said that if the proposal – which also involves some standardisation of working practices across its six depots – is accepted, drivers will be guaranteed a further inflation linked pay increase next year. I have to work seven days a week just to try to make ends meet. Two of those days are overtime, but after tax, it’s pointless doing overtime.Workers at Go North East began an indefinite walkout on Saturday, having overwhelmingly rejected a pay deal aimed at averting the shutdown. It has meant that all services run by the company, which describes itself as the biggest bus operator in the region, are cancelled until further notice. More than 1,300 workers from Go North East have voted for industrial action following "below-inflation offers". The mass walk out is expected to bring bus services in the region to a standstill. This means that no North East buses will run on those dates, except for contracted school bus services.