In a decisive move, over 1,300 members of the Unite union employed by Go North East are set to initiate an indefinite strike, escalating their protest for fair pay. Following a week-long strike already staged and another week scheduled to commence tomorrow, the workers will escalate their actions into an open-ended stoppage starting October 28.
Unite regional officer Dave Telford expressed the frustration of the workers, emphasising that Go Ahead, the parent company, has the means to compensate its employees fairly but is choosing not to do so. Telford stated, “Our members don’t want to strike but are being forced to take this action by an employer who refuses to deliver on fair pay. Our door remains open for a new offer, and Go North East needs to come back to the table.”
The affected workforce spans various roles, including drivers, engineers, maintenance workers, and depot crews. Go North East depots in Consett, Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main (North Shields), Sunderland, and Washington will be impacted by the ongoing dispute.
While the company acknowledged the severity of the situation, it insisted that it “could not have tried harder to solve this dispute” and proposed a revised offer of 9.5 percent. The outcome of this protracted standoff will undoubtedly have implications for both the workers and the broader community relying on Go North East services.
