Staff at McGill’s have voted to stage strikes over a pay dispute, affecting the operator’s ex-Arriva staff.
85% of the company’s 50 Unite union members – including drivers, shunters and labourers – agreed to the industrial action.
From 26 November, two depots (Inchinnan and Johnstone) will be affected by three days of 24-hour industrial action and a continuous overtime ban. Action will continue on 2 December and conclude on 9 December.
The dispute centres on ex-Arriva staff being paid between 8 to 14% less than their McGill’s counterparts as a result of a transfer in 2011. The union claims that transferred members have remained on Arriva Scotland West contracts and been subjected to successive pay freezes since the transfer, while the pre-existing McGill’s workers have seen several pay increases and are now earning more than the ex-Arriva staff.
A spokesperson for McGill’s Buses said: “McGill’s has repeatedly and consistently offered pay parity for the ex-Arriva staff since they came on board in March 2012. This offer still stands and we would hope that this group of employees take up this offer to increase their take home pay. There is enough resilience within McGill’s to ensure that the strikes do not affect any bus services.”
Kenny Jordan, Unite Regional Industrial Officer, said: “The pay catch-up between the ex-Arriva workers and the McGill’s workers due to the transfer in 2011 was achieved in early 2017. However, this has now caused a significant pay differential because ex-Arriva staff are now being paid between 8 and 14% less than their co-workers. The tables have now turned.
“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 resulting in a series of days of action beginning from 26 November.”
