Strike Action Called Off As Brighton And Crawley Bus Workers Secure Pay Rise

Planned strike action by more than a thousand bus workers in Brighton and Crawley has been called off after staff voted to accept a new pay deal.

Services run by the Brighton Bus Company and Crawley Metrobus, both part of the Go-Ahead Group, had faced disruption on October 6 and 13.

But the strikes were cancelled when Unite the Union confirmed drivers had backed an improved offer.

Under the deal, most workers will receive a 5.2% pay rise, while those at the Copthorne depot — who were previously on a lower hourly rate and had no sick pay — secured a 7% increase with back pay, and new entitlement to sick pay at 67% of their wage.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham hailed the agreement, saying:

“Our members stood firm and were ready to take to the picket line until they won a fair deal. This pay rise is nothing less than they deserve.”

Regional officer Janet Nobbs added:

“Driving buses is demanding and stressful — in all weathers, at all times of day and night — and our members keep Brighton and Crawley moving.

"This pay award is a huge step forward during a cost-of-living crisis, but we’ll continue pressing the company on management issues that still need fixing.”

The Go-Ahead Group, based in Newcastle and owned by international firms Kinetic and Globalvia, operates bus and rail services worldwide.

Unite says its Sussex members have shown the value of collective action in securing fair pay.