McGill’s staff halted strike action planned for today after 11th-hour crisis talks with company bosses.
Unite called off three days of industry action expected today, December 2 and December 9, after emergency talks started to show progress.
Drivers, shunters and labourers were due to walk out over a pay dispute affecting the company’s ex-Arriva staff.
Union reps said former Arriva workers were being paid eight to 14 per cent less than their McGill’s counterparts.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) facilitated a meeting with the union and McGill’s bosses yesterday in an effort to resolve the pay row.
They will now take part in further discussions in the hope of reaching a settlement.
Kenny Jordan, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Following discussions through Acas, Unite are confident that a settlement can be reached.
“This, therefore, removed the need for industrial action.”
The dispute comes as a result of a transfer in 2011.
Around 50 transferred members have remained on Arriva Scotland West contracts and been subjected to successive pay freezes, while the pre-existing McGill’s workers, through several pay increases, have now shot ahead of the ex-Arriva staff.
Earlier this month, Unite told the Express members had requested a review but the firm was “adamant” that parity would only be achieved if ex-Arriva staff changed their contracts.
However, staff were unwilling to give up agreements in their current contracts, including a better sick pay scheme.
The union maintains that former Arriva staff have been lagging behind on pay.
After voting for strike action, Mr Jordan told the Express: “Unite’s members who previously worked for Arriva have been extremely patient and accepted that McGill’s rates had to catch up.
“However, this position has been used as a cover by management to suppress the wages of around 50 of our members for eight years which is not acceptable.
“The strong mandate we have received for industrial action is a reflection of the anger and injustice felt by the workers.”
McGill’s management would not comment at this stage but a spokesman told the Express that bus services were expected to run as scheduled.
