Dozens of Arriva bus drivers stage unofficial walk-out

May 8 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

Arriva buses (200)

MORE than 100 bus drivers staged an unofficial strike at Arriva’s Speke depot yesterday hitting hundreds of services.

Drivers returned to work at 10.30am and normal services were resumed on all routes by lunchtime but not before thousands of city travellers were affected.

At 6am when the wildcat strike was called, the entire 120-strong bus fleet at the Shaw Road depot was grounded.

The drivers walked out in protest against revised working hours proposed for the end of May. Arriva intends to extend its services to the Liverpool One shopping centre to provide transport for shoppers and workers throughout extended shopping hours.

As a result drivers may have to work more shifts between 1pm and 9pm.

Their dissatisfaction led to about 120 buses being affected in the south of the city, covering routes 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 500 and 699.

Phil Stone, managing director at Arriva North West, said: “We apologise to all customers who were affected by the unofficial strike action. The inconvenience to our passengers, without any warning, was unacceptable and we are taking this matter very seriously.

“We appreciate there is some driver dissatisfaction to the extension of services and we are in continued discussion with the Unite and GMB unions regarding this.”