Orkney bus staff poised to strike over pay

Stagecoach staff in Orkney could be set to strike amid a nationwide row over pay.

Workers in every Stagecoach division in Scotland have supported taking industrial action in a dispute over pay, according to trade union Unite. The union has warned that unless there is a “significant shift” in the group’s pay offers across its Scottish divisions, then strike action by the end of October will be “inevitable”.

The workers involved in the pay dispute are drivers, engineering staff, administrative workers, and cleaners. Any nationwide industrial action will involve disruption to the COP26 climate change conference being held in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12.

Last Thursday, Stagecoach confirmed it has submitted a fresh pay offer, in a bid to prevent industrial action by workers in Orkney and across the Highlands.

But the union representing staff at the bus operator criticised the timing of this response, suggesting that “there is still some distance to go” when it comes to reaching a deal.

Confirming its offer, last Thursday morning, Stagecoach Highlands said it hoped to break the deadlock and reach an agreement with trade union Unite.

New deals will be put to Unite in talks this week, covering employees in Kirkwall, Inverness, Tain, Portree, Thurso, and Aviemore.