Following unsuccessful pay negotiations the NCT TGWU drivers have called a strike for Saturday 27th May and every Saturday thereafter, or until the situation changes.
NCT deeply regrets this action, and is disappointed that the TGWU have not sought to negotiate further before taking this action.
NCT has maintained its position through negotiations that the offer implemented is above inflation and all that the Company can reasonably afford in the current economic climate.
This action will severely disrupt NCT services and may mean that no NCT buses will operate at all.
This action also affects services Link 1 & 2 Park and Ride services from Queens Drive and Racecourse and Skylink.
NCT will try to operate key routes during the daytime on 27th May, this is dependent on the number of drivers reporting for work on the day.
For the latest information about NCT services on Saturday (and any subsequent Saturdays) passengers should:
o Call the NCT Travel Centre 0115 950 60 70
o Listen to local radio/ TV for updates
o Visit our website www.nctx.co.uk
o Call Traveline 0870 608 2 608
Normal services will resume Sunday 28th May, although some may also be disrupted or cancelled as a result of this action
Pathfinder services to Newark and Southwell are unaffected by this dispute and will continue to operate as scheduled but as a limited stop service from the City to Linden Grove on service 100 to Southwell.
Mark Fowles MD for NCT stated:
“We are anxious on behalf of our passengers, to resolve this dispute as soon as possible and hope our customers will bear with us, supporting the strong position taken on their behalf to resolve in this situation. We maintain our view that, we should not ask our passengers to bear this additional cost and believe that this the overtime ban, a direct consequence of the strike action called by the TGWU is necessary to make the drivers realise the impact of their actions to themselves and our passengers quickly”.
Nottingham City Transport apologise to all passengers who will be affected by strike action on Saturday or affected by poor service during this week.
Strike facts:
- This strike action has been called by the TGWU following unsuccessful pay negotiations which have been ongoing since December 2005.
- Nottingham City Transport offered and implemented a 2.4% rise to drivers, this equates to an increase of 20p per hour.
- This was rejected by the TGWU members.
- To date no desired pay figure has ever been given to NCT by the TGWU, the response to the Company's offer was “20p is not enough, we want more”. No efficiency or productivity savings have been offered by the TGWU.
- NCT drivers have enjoyed an above inflation increase for the past 7 years, and currently receive one of best salary packages on offer to bus drivers outside of London.
- The average drivers' salary last year was £19,788. (By definition, half of drivers earned more than that). They also enjoy a final salary pension scheme, paid meal breaks, company profit related bonus, an occupational sick pay scheme, a non contributory health scheme, five weeks paid holiday and free travel across the network for themselves and a nominated partner.
- NCT's maximum big bus driver rate is now £8.77 per hour plus £1 extra for unsocial hours, worked after 9pm and Sundays.
- NCT Full Shift Cycle drivers since have seen their wages rise by 37.5% in four years.
- NCT driver starter rates have increased by 33% in the last 4 years from £5.63 to £7.50 per hour.
- In an attempt to minimise the duration of the strike activity and resolve this matter quickly, NCT have withdrawn the opportunity for drivers to make up their wages having taken strike action by working non scheduled overtime. Drivers can still work their scheduled overtime as normal. NCT has not implemented an “overtime ban”, as has been reported in some media. NCT believe this is a reasonable response and that it will shorten the action.
- Regrettably, some weekday services will be disrupted or cancelled as a result of this decision. This decision has only been made in response to the industrial action.
- NCT believe that we should not ask our passengers to incur additional travel costs the year round to fund a higher than affordable wage settlement for drivers.
- NCT will continue to discuss outstanding claims with the TGWU, but maintains that any additional payments must be fully funded by productivity efficiencies and the door remains open to discuss these at any time. To date, this offer has not been taken up by the TGWU.
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