Page last updated at 15:21 GMT, Thursday, 23 October 2008 16:21 UK

Fresh offer made over bus dispute

Stagecoach bus
Hundreds of Stagecoach staff were balloted on action

A fresh offer has been made to bus workers in the north east of Scotland and Highlands in the hope that strike action can be averted.

Members of the T&G section of the Unite union voted for a series of one-day stoppages earlier this week after rejecting an offer from Stagecoach.

The strikes are still scheduled to begin next Thursday.

However, talks between management and union officials will now see a fresh deal taken to workers.

Charlie Mullen, managing director of Stagecoach Bluebird, said: "This is an exceptional deal for our employees, particularly in the current tough economic climate, offering drivers a rise of more than �1,600 a year.

"We hope that these meetings will result in a successful outcome and the union suspending planned industrial action."

Members are based at bus depots in Aberdeen, Stonehaven, Banchory, Ballater, Insch, Alford, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Elgin, Macduff, Inverness and Tain.




SEE ALSO
Second bus firm in action ballot
22 Oct 08 |  North East/N Isles
Bus staff vote for strike action
21 Oct 08 |  North East/N Isles
Stagecoach ballot draws to close
17 Oct 08 |  North East/N Isles
Stagecoach action vote under way
06 Oct 08 |  North East/N Isles
Bus staff set for action ballot
01 Oct 08 |  North East/N Isles
Bosses hope to avoid bus strike
25 Nov 05 |  Scotland

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