Zarah ChoudharyUnite has confirmed that around 200 Stagecoach bus drivers will take strike action in a dispute over pay, affecting bus services across the Highlands and Islands.
The mandate for action followed the rejection of a pay offer made by the bus company, which is based in Inverness.
According to Unite, industrial action would impact on Stagecoach services in Skye, Orkney, and to the north and west of Inverness.
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Unite’s Stagecoach bus drivers who provide a vital service across the Scottish Highlands and Islands deserve an improved pay offer.
“The company continues to increase its bank balance at the expense of our members, and this is not acceptable.
“We will back our Stagecoach members all the way in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”
The rejected pay offer amounted to 4% from July with a further 2.5% increase from January 2025.
The initial six months offer was then followed by a 3% pay offer running from July 2025 for one year.
According to Unite, the Stagecoach Highlands offer would leave drivers among the poorest paid across Scotland.
Highland Country Buses Limited is registered under forms part of the wider Stagecoach Group.
In its last accounts, Stagecoach Group recorded profits after tax amounting to £1.71m in 2023, up from £448,000 in the previous year.
Marc Jackson, industrial officer at Unite, said: “In a matter of weeks Stagecoach bus services across the Highlands, Skye and Orkney could come to a halt because of the company’s greed.
“This dispute could be resolved by a fair and reasonable pay offer to our members.
“We would urge Stagecoach to see sense instead of continuing down a road which will lead to significant disruption for the travelling public.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach Highlands said: “We have been informed by Unite that members in Stagecoach Highlands have voted to undertake industrial action.
“Our joint negotiating committee of union representatives and management are working hard to reach a fair deal for our team across the region.
“We would like to reassure our passengers that we are doing everything we can to minimise any potential disruption to services, and will provide further updates in due course.”
