Members of the RMT Union have voted to accept a 10% pay rise from bus operator Southern Vectis, just a month after rejecting the same deal.
As previously reported by Island Echo, RMT representatives had held talks with Southern Vectis and rejected the company’s initial offers surrounding increased pay for its workers. A final offer of 10% was then put forward, which union members voted to reject.
Last month it was said that staff felt that they should be paid the same as others within the Go South Group, noting that drivers and engineering grades are paid better, leaving them to feel that they are being treated differently as they are Island-based.
It is understood that a revised 10.6% pay offer was put forward by Southern Vectis, but with a number of conditions attached. At the same time, the original 10% offer was kept on the table.
Now, a ballot of 150 union members has resulted in a clear opinion of accepting the original offer, rejecting the more stringent 10.6% pay rise. Out of 150 votes cast, 129 people voted for Option 1. 15 rejected both options and 6 rejected Option 2.
Pay will be backdated to 1st June 2023.
And now we know why the fares are going up !!!
I would have liked a 5 per cent pay rise let alone a 10 per cent rise……
Back to the car then !!!!!!
Average TCO of a car in UK is £3000/yr.
Even with recent increase the “30d freedom” x 12 months (if you really travel that often) is less than 50% TCO.
Again, I’m comparing only average car to MAXIMUM bus usage money can buy, not even average, so in reality for most the % would be even better.
Paid for by the public with the bus fare increase