First West putting “profits over people” as bus workers begin four-day strike

Starting today, Tuesday 16 September, over 600 bus drivers will begin strike action in Bristol, causing severe disruption to public transport schedules in the area. The industrial action will last for four days, ending on Friday 19 September. The strikes come after First West buses made its “full and final” pay offer to Unite representatives. Bristol’s City Line routes will be affected, including key locations such as Bristol Airport, the universities, and Amazon’s Bristol warehouse. The workers walking out are based at the Lawrence Hill and Hengrove Bus depots.

‘Full and final’ from First West means bus strike

Unite drivers in the area had already rejected a two-year pay deal. This would have given them £1 extra per hour until March next year, then just a 30p increase from April 2026. The union also suspended planned strike action from 4 September to 8 September to ballot workers on an improved offer from First West. The workers also voted to reject this deal.

However, strikes planned for 16-19 September on the nearby Badger Line have been cancelled after workers accepted their improved offer from First. This included some 400 drivers at the Bristol Marlborough Street, Bath, Wells and Weston-Super-Mare depots.

First West bus boss Doug Claringbold said:

We are pleased to hear that our Badgerline colleagues have voted to accept our full and final pay offer, which has resulted in them calling off their planned strikes and helped reduce disruption to customers.

However, we are disappointed to be told that our Citylines colleagues have rejected the pay offer, and therefore their planned strikes for four days from Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th September inclusive will go ahead… While this was our full and final pay offer, we still hope to find a solution with the trade union which encourages them to call off these disruptive strikes.

‘Very profitable company’

However, Unite has pointed out that First West’s profit levels should more than allow them to offer its drivers a fair deal. In 2024, First Group PLC – First West parent company – made an operating profit of £204.3m. Its share dividends also increased by 45% compared to 2023. General secretary Sharon Graham said:

First Group is a very profitable company and can afford to come back with an improved offer that is acceptable to our bus drivers.

Unite will fully support our members throughout their strike action, which has been caused by the employer putting profits over people.

The union is willing to negotiate with First bosses for a better deal. Regional officer Ken Fish stated that:

There is still an opportunity for First West of England to come back to the negotiating table to stop this disruptive strike action.

The coming four days of First West bus strikes will be the most significant industrial action on Bristol’s buses in over a decade. Unite has warned that it is willing to bring the city “to a standstill”.

We know that First West is making money. The choice that now faces the transport company is simple – is it willing to share those profits with the people who actually drive the buses?

Featured image via the Canary