Strike-breaking bus drivers in Doncaster are being offered Greggs vouchers, bonuses and free meals to keep services running across the city during the dispute, angry First employees have said.

Drivers in Doncaster have already staged two days of strike action in a row over pay – with more walk-outs planned for April 7, 22 and 24.

Striking drivers took to the picket line outside First’s depot in Leger Way as Saturday and Monday’s strikes severely disrupted routes in the city.

One upset striking driver lifted the lid on incentives apparently being offered by First to break the strike.

Drivers have been offered Greggs vouchers to help break Doncaster's bus strike.

placeholder image — Drivers have been offered Greggs vouchers to help break Doncaster's bus strike.

He said: “First has suspended all overtime and late payments to try and force the drivers back to work instead of striking.

“The management is running buses on strike days and they are getting paid their normal wage plus an overtime wage, a £50 bonus for working strike days and a £10 Greggs gift card for meals.

“If they are not from around Doncaster, they are getting put up in a hotel with breakfast and evening meal paid for as well as hired mini buses to bring them to and from Doncaster.

“This is costing First a fortune but they won’t give the drivers what they want.

“First don’t care about their staff – all they care about is their profits and putting profits first."

The strikes have been called in a row over parity with First drivers in Sheffield who receive more for doing the same job.

The driver said: “Why are Sheffield and Rotherham drivers entitled to more pay over Doncaster when we all work and do the same job?”

Passengers have suffered widespread disruption since the dispute began with more strikes planned over the coming weeks.

In response, Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire, said: “We are doing all we can with the resources we have to put buses on the road where possible and keep customers moving during industrial action, and importantly those who rely on us to make essential trips.

“We have volunteers supporting our Doncaster operations and this has meant covering certain costs to enable them to live and work away from home, in addition to extended working hours.

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

She added: “Because pay negotiations are conducted at different times across our depots, Doncaster and Sheffield drivers have different pay anniversary dates, so their rates are not always aligned, which is a normal part of the pay negotiation cycle across separate locations.

“First Bus has been flexible to union demands and made multiple offers, such that the pay deal now on the table is beyond what many workers are likely to see this year, yet Unite representatives have shown no willingness to move their position. Our door remains open for discussions to find an agreement and avoid any further unnecessary industrial action.”