Bus drivers strike over pay

Drivers are planning another strike on Friday 18 July.

Shoppers in Portsmouth are being warned to expect severe delays due to a bus strike.

Bus drivers in Portsmouth, Gosport and Fareham are holding the 24-hour stoppage on Saturday.

More than 350 drivers with the First Group are striking in a dispute over pay.

The main union involved, the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), has dismissed the company's offer of a 23p an hour pay rise as "irresponsible".

They are treating us with contempt Hugh Kirkbride, of the T&G

A spokesman from First Group said the strike was "likely to lead to severe disruption of services" across the city.

But he said the company had offered the drivers a 4% rise and regretted that they thought it necessary to strike.

Hugh Kirkbride, the T&G's regional industrial organiser in Portsmouth, said: "They are treating us with contempt.

"First Group operators across the UK know the value of their staff but here in Hampshire the managers are out of touch.

"We are ready at any time to meet to resolve this dispute but the local managers must improve the 23 pence an hour offer.

"We regret any inconvenience to the travelling public but urge them to press the company to talk," he said.

Bus drivers currently earn between £5.84 and £6.74 an hour but the T&G wants basic rates of £7.25 an hour.

A second strike is planned on Friday 18 July.