Bus routes disrupted as Stagecoach drivers strike

Stagecoach bus routes across the west of Scotland have been disrupted with drivers out on strike in a dispute over pay.

The 24-hour walk-out, affecting services in Ayrshire and Arran, will be followed by two further strike days on 2 June and 6 June.

The Unite union said six weeks of further action are planned after talks with the bus operator failed to improve on a 4% pay offer for members.

Stagecoach apologised to customers and said several services had been suspended and timetables reduced.

It said it wanted a "fair and sustainable" pay deal for drivers that preserves the viability of bus services.

Unite said about 430 drivers operating out of depots in Ayr, Arran, Ardrossan, and Kilmarnock would be on strike.

As well as local services, some services such as express routes between Ayr, Kilmarnock and Glasgow are also impacted.

Stagecoach said these services are running on an adjusted timetable.

Bus depots in Dumfries and Galloway are not involved in the action.

The union said their current pay offer was "unacceptable" as it left them among the poorest paid across Stagecoach's UK operations.

Unite industrial officer Siobhan McCready, said: "The drivers are being asked to fund a pay rise by working longer hours, taking longer unpaid breaks and losing a week of annual leave."

Ms McCready later told the BBC that Unite had advised members to stay away from picket lines as Stagecoach had "threatened" members with gross misconduct if they intimidated staff who were working.

She claimed the company had been using CCTV at depots to monitor picket lines.

Stagecoach said it had advised employees that any industrial action "should be carried out peacefully and within the law".

A statement said: "We are therefore disappointed that Unite are presenting this in a negative light. Our priority remains ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues while maintaining open lines of communication with our employees and union representatives."

Strike action had previously been suspended for further talks after the company withdrew a threat of cancelling drivers' annual leave entitlement.

Stagecoach thanks passengers for "patience and understanding" and urged them to check their services before setting out to travel.

It said in a statement: "Regrettably, the industrial action will disrupt our services and inconvenience our customers.

"We're working hard to minimise the impact of this disruption, but unfortunately, the limited services we're running will affect customers travelling in and around Ayrshire."

The BBC spoke to commuters in Kilmarnock town centre on Monday morning, and though there was some support for the strike, a number of people felt it was an "inconvenience" especially for those who rely on public transport.

One woman was concerned that elderly people who did not have a car would stay at home as a result.

"I use them every day because we no longer have our car," she said. "It's a big, big loss. I know they're trying to get more money but they're not considering other people and that annoys me."

Another woman, though strongly in favour of the right to strike, said: "Nobody can get to work, it's inconvenient and a load of nonsense."

One 17-year-old, who uses a free bus pass, said she normally plans out journeys to work - but the strike meant she had to rely on her mother for a lift.