First bus strikes this month in South Yorkshire and Aberdeen

First buses will be disrupted by strike action in South Yorkshire and Aberdeen this month.

South Yorkshire bus drivers will be holding a one day strike on Friday 10 July after talks between First management and Unite officals did not end the pay dispute, with a 2.95% offer rejected.

Sheffield City Council have published information on routes that are still running during the First bus strike.

Updates will be posted on Travel South Yorkshire, and you can also call Traveline on 01709 51 51 51.

Unite's regional industrial organiser Steve Clark told the BBC: "First Group made £122m in 2008 but there is a group mandate of no pay awards for bus workers.

"This is unacceptable, our members are right to expect a reasonable pay increase and the company is wrong to offer nothing to its employees."

Deputy managing director for First Brandon Jones said: "Due to the economic recession, which has seen unemployment in the Yorkshire region increase by 13% in the last three months, First has no available extra money to fund a pay increase.

"We have however said we are willing to review our current pay rate, subject to productivity improvements."

Aberdeen bus drivers, maintance staff and cleaners will be on strike on 16 July, and there will be an overtime ban and work to rule from July 17.

Unite wants a 4% rise but First are proposing a wage freeze.

Operations director at First in Aberdeen Duncan Cameron told the BBC: "The union needs to recognise the economic realities facing First in Aberdeen and many other businesses such as negative inflation, rising unemployment and job losses."

Tommy Campbell of Unite told STV "If this company wasn't making money we would certainly not be balloting on industrial action and we would be acting reasonably in those circumstances.

Earlier this month, First Aberdeen angered Unite by placing adverts claiming that staff were seeking a 52% pay rise. One wonders why this money wasn't used to improve services instead of win a public relations fight.

Sadly, First Aberdeen do not have any more information on the strike at this time.

The Aberdeen Express and Echo claims that the work to rule from July 17 will mean that "all Aberdeen services are expected to be up to 30 minutes late and passengers dumped off buses."

Meanwhile in London, Underground engineers and electrical workers will be balloted for industrial action. Any strike by engineers and electrical workers would close all the Tube, as they are responsible for safety.

Looks like summer 2009 is going to be full of strikes.