Drivers to stage week of action

Drivers will start a seven-day walkout next Monday

Hundreds of bus drivers in Edinburgh and Lothians have agreed to stage a week-long strike after pay dispute talks stalled.

Next Monday's action by 800 workers at First Bus follows on from previous one and two-day walkouts.

The drivers' union, the T&G, has called for £8 an hour but First Bus said its pay offer was reasonable.

T&G regional organiser Sandy Smart said drivers were losing money but felt they had no alternative.

Drivers went on strike on Sunday as part of a 48-hour strike and also took part in two 24-hour stoppages earlier this month.

Unfortunately, the longer we are out the more money the drivers lose Sandy Smart T&G

The strike action has affected more than 300 services and caused problems for about 100,000 commuters.

Services operating in the city of Edinburgh, central Scotland, West Lothian, East Lothian and Midlothian have been affected.

Mr Smart said drivers would return to work on Tuesday but had notified First Bus that the industrial action would continue.

Strike notice

"We have given them notice that we will be out all week next week," he said.

"Unfortunately, the longer we are out the more money the drivers lose and obviously it is causing disruption and we are losing routes and passengers.

"But the way members feel, there is nothing else we can do.

"The company is going to give them a deal but they are paying for it themselves."

Juliette Turner, operations director of First Scotland East, apologised to customers for the disruption.

She said: "We believe the union action is unnecessary.

"First management will continue to do all we can to bring these negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion."