Doncaster bus strike: Drivers threaten further walk-out despite ACAS talks

Striking bus drivers in Doncaster have warned of a fresh walk-out - depending on the outcome to talks this week aimed at settling the dispute.

Drivers will stage a walk-out tomorrow (April 29) but a strike called for May 1 has been called off while talks hosted by arbitration service ACAS between bus operator First and union Unite take place.

However, drivers have said they will walk out again on May 6, depending on the outcome of the talks.

230 drivers based at First’s Leger Way depot have been taking industrial action since March 28 as they have asked for pay parity with drivers at the same company who drive routes in Sheffield.

A number of one-day strikes have been held with the action disrupting passengers and routes across Doncaster.

Unite regional officer Christian Ratcliffe said: “The employer has agreed to a meeting with Unite and Acas. Therefore, we have suspended strike action this Friday for negotiations.”

Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire, said: “We are ready to enter talks to seek a resolution and are pleased Unite has agreed to pause industrial action to enable negotiations to take place.

“Our latest pay offer includes an immediate seven per cent pay increase backdated to January 2026, and would deliver an overall 18 per cent pay rise by July 2027."

“We hope these talks will end the dispute and the harm and disruption it is causing to the daily lives of customers,” she added.

The talks came after Ms Hands sent a letter to drivers and which has been seen by the Free Press.

In it, she told strikers: “As you are aware, we have offered one of the highest pay increases in percentage terms First Bus has ever offered and so you would genuinely have been financially better off.

“But because this about principles on both sides, we have become stuck. The principle for you is you want parity with colleagues at another depot, who you used to be collectively bargained with, and the principle for us is that parity can be achieved, only it can't be done in a single backdated step.

“I hear things like "First Bus can afford it". First Bus is a publicly listed company and therefore owned by the public and institutions like pension funds - we exist to do good and we have to make money to exist. We use profits to either pay back those who invested in us or to buy new buses, upgrade facilities and or to buy new buses, upgrade facilities and indeed give above inflation pay rises to staff.

“The other thing I hear is SYMCA or the Mayor will step in to sort this. They will not. This is not their dispute - franchising will not save us.

“We are a year and a half away from franchising and I've tried many times to explain to your Union reps that getting everything you want in one go now was the worst possible timing as you are in the most uncertain period of your future.

“I also said, and I meant it, that I would send you into franchising the right way - with strong and comparable pay, terms and conditions with Sheffield, but that you have to work with me to do this sustainably over the next two years.

“Each additional day of disruption places further financial strain on any ability we have to offer a better deal, it negatively affects your pensions and holiday accruals, creates uncertainty about the long-term security of the depot and creates uncertainty about the long-term security of the depot, and damages confidence the public have in bus travel.”