Bus staff strike disrupts schools

Stagecoach staff were balloted about industrial action Schools affected Strike back on

Thousands of schoolchildren in north east Scotland and the Highlands are being affected by a one-day strike by bus operator Stagecoach.

Parents were warned to make alternative arrangements.

Aberdeenshire Council said about 4,000 pupils would be affected, and Highland Council said several of the region's schools would be hit by the disruption.

The millionaire owner of Stagecoach, Brian Souter, was among those drafted in to drive a bus in Aberdeen.

A Stagecoach spokesman said: "Brian does a full bus driving shift every year.

"He felt very strongly that he should support the team of 160 staff from across the UK that is helping keep bus services running for customers in the north of Scotland."

The one-day strike by Stagecoach bus staff is over pay. Further action is planned for 21 and 24 November.

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "Aberdeenshire Council's focus is on the education of our children therefore our educational establishments will be open as usual.

We are extremely disappointed that some of our customers have been inconvenienced by this unnecessary union strike action, particularly families with young children who rely on school contract services Stagecoach spokesperson

"Parents were warned in advance of the industrial action and we expect them to make every conceivable effort to get their children to school.

"We ask that parents car-share where possible to reduce congestion around schools."

A Highland Council spokesman said: "It is anticipated that a number of school buses in the Inverness, Ross and Cromarty and Nairn areas will not be running due to industrial action being taken by drivers at Stagecoach Bluebird.

"The Highland Council is working with Stagecoach to minimise the disruption to services, including school bus services."

'Comprehensive network'

Aberdeen City Council and Moray Council said schools were not expected to be affected.

Stagecoach said 160 staff from elsewhere in the UK had arrived in the north of Scotland to help provide a "comprehensive network of services to customers".

Stagecoach strikers took action in Aberdeen

The firm urged Unite to call off the strike, and said that 150 of its engineering, administration and cleaning staff had already voted to accept a two-year deal offering a 9.5% pay increase - the same deal as the firm had offered to union members.

A Stagecoach statement said: "We have been able to run a close to normal bus network across the North of Scotland so far today.

"More than half our drivers have come in to work normally, which has allowed us to operate an even higher level of service than planned.

"However, we are extremely disappointed that some of our customers have been inconvenienced by this unnecessary union strike action, particularly families with young children who rely on school contract services in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands."