The Arriva bus strike that is affecting people all over Merseyside looks set to head into its third week after talks between the company and unions broke down yesterday.
Drivers from the major bus operator first walked out on July 20 in a row over pay and conditions. Today marks the 14th day of continuous strikes in which no Arriva buses have been available anywhere in Merseyside.
Yesterday, Arriva met with officials from Unite and GMB - the unions representing workers in this dispute - for talks, but once again no agreement was reached as those talks broke down. As things stand the strike will enter its third week tomorrow.
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Arriva said it was "extremely disappointed" that despite further negotiations with the unions and what it called a "very generous improved offer", the unions "walked away without even agreeing to put our offer to their members".
A spokesperson said: "This means we continue to face ongoing strike action across the North West region, causing continued misery for passengers. We have worked tirelessly to reach an agreement on a way forward, today making an offer that would have seen our drivers being the highest paid in the region, with no changes to current employee benefits and a lump sum of backdated pay to April 1 2022.
The statement continued: "Our customers will share our frustration at the Unions’ unreasonable stance. We are seeking to engage ACAS to help bring a resolution to this situation and we urge Unite and GMB to immediately reconsider their position, call an end to strike action and give their members the opportunity to ballot on our generous pay rise.”
But a note sent by the unions to members yesterday, seen by the ECHO, described the latest offer from Arriva as "nothing short of an insult" and said it would not be brought back to be balloted on.
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “The Arriva statement is heavy on distortions and light on facts.
“Talks were unsuccessful to progress as Arriva failed to place any new money on the table. Until Arriva is prepared to increase its offer then further talks either directly with Arriva or brokered by Acas, will not progress.”
“Rather than enraging passengers with misleading statements, Arriva needs to make a genuinely improved offer and return to the negotiating table.”
While the striking drivers have good support across Merseyside, people are feeling the financial impacts of having to find other ways to get around. In some parts of the region, Arriva buses are the only form of public transport available.
On Twitter, Liverpool resident Liam Fitz said: "If the strikes continue into next week, I would’ve then paid an additional £140 in travel - which is unsustainable."
Former Liverpool Councillor Andrew Foxley tweeted: "Thoroughly tired of @ArrivaNorthWest now. Poor services and a failure to resolve a strike that's stopped a vital public service for nearly a fortnight, with no sign of progress."
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has made clear he does not currently have the powers to change bus routes in the region under the current system, although it is something he is trying to change.
Facing calls to "strip Arriva of routes" and pass them to other companies, he said: "I've not got control of the routes - the private bus companies do. Fares and timetables too. I'm working to reverse that power imbalance though. Local leaders are going to reregulate our buses to give us those controls. It'll put the public back at the heart of public transport."
Merseytravel added: "Merseytravel and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are not part of any negotiations between operators and the trade unions and are not in a position to be able to provide alternative services in case of this industrial action."
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