AN ARRIVA bus driver expects the company’s latest offer of a pay rise to North Wales workers to be rejected and the strike to subsequently resume.

Roughly 400 drivers working at depots including Amlwch, Bangor, Hawarden, Llandudno, Rhyl and Wrexham had initially planned to strike continuously from 6am on Sunday, November 14 until 1am on Sunday, December 19.

Drivers are in dispute regarding pay rates and working conditions, but the strike was curtailed yesterday evening (November 18) after a fresh offer from Arriva was made.

In a letter shown to the Journal / Pioneer, Arriva Wales drivers who are members of the Unite the Union trade union were informed of the following proposals:

• An increase on the hourly rate from £11.30 to £11.40 from January 2021 to the end of March 2021.

• A further increase on the hourly rate from £11.40 to £11.64 from April 2021 to the end of March 2022.

• An increase on the hourly rate from £11.64 to £12.00 from April 2022 to the end of December 2022.

• The proposed 2021 increases will result in an approximate back pay of £575, and an increase in basic pay across the two-year deal of £1,251.

The postal ballot will open on November 21 and close on Monday, December 6.

A two-week notice would then have to be served after the ballot closes before the drivers can strike again.

The driver is adamant that this latest offer will be voted down, and accused Arriva of ‘manipulating’ the situation.

The driver said: “The strike has been suspended for legal reasons due to Arriva putting an offer in over a certain percentage.

"Feedback from all depots is a no to the offer, so the strike will continue after notice is served after the ballot.

“The respect for the company has dropped to the lowest I have known.

“They’ve manipulated it because it’s over a certain percentage, but they’ve stretched it (the time frame) out. The mood is just awful at the moment.

“The ballot closes on December 6, then you’ve got to give them two weeks’ notice saying we’re going on strike again. They’re playing a game to keep the buses on the road at the most important time.

“A lot of people have supported us; there’s the odd one who hasn’t, but the general public mostly are behind us.”

Arriva was approached for a response to the driver’s comments, but was unable to say anything more beyond its statement yesterday.

An Arriva Buses Wales spokesperson said yesterday: "This is good news for our customers in North Wales and Chester and we are pleased that ongoing discussions this week have seen both parties committed to finding a way forward so that services could resume tomorrow.”

All North Wales services were due to resume from the first scheduled bus today (November 19), but Arriva warned that early-morning services may still experience some disruption as it mobilised its operation overnight.