Ryan FowlerBus drivers and engineers at Go North East are considering strike action after what the Unite union describes as a “dangerous management culture” that has resulted in staff being threatened with dismissal, suspended, or forced to resign for raising safety concerns.
More than 1,000 workers across depots in Tyneside, Northumberland, and County Durham are now being consulted on next steps, which could see bus services in the region disrupted for the second time in as many years.
Unite claims that Go North East has created a “culture of fear” in retaliation for workers securing a pay rise after industrial action in 2023. According to the union, drivers and engineers who have flagged legitimate safety issues, including faulty CCTV on buses, have been disciplined or forced out of their jobs.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Go North East has a track record of appalling management practices but it has plumbed new depths with this latest reign of terror that has seen workers, including union reps, forced to sign paperwork under threats of dismissal.
“We have members who have been threatened with dismissal or forced to resign due to such Dickensian working practices and despite attempts by our reps and officers to find a way forward, such a vindictive approach to the workforce has left little choice but to consult with our membership on next steps.”
The dispute has escalated following reports that seven employees were sent home last month after raising health and safety concerns, with six later given final written warnings. Two workers, including union representatives, resigned under pressure. This week, a driver was reportedly sent home and now faces possible dismissal after refusing to drive a double-decker bus without working CCTV.
Go North East has also been accused of prioritising buses for its sister company, Go North West, which recently won a franchise in Manchester, while struggling to maintain services locally due to a shortage of engineers.
Unite regional officer Dave Telford said: “Once again, communities are being betrayed by Go North East. Our members live and work in this area and the working conditions they now face are so unreasonable they are considering strike action. Passengers are being put in danger by this approach to safety.
“Deciding to de-recognise our reps is an act of absurd cowardice. Imagine if unions refused to deal with managers who they didn’t like.
“This is a dispute of Go North East’s own making, in petty revenge for the workers getting a decent pay deal. And it will have to answer to the pensioners, the parents and the business owners who will be let down when the buses stop running.”
The union says it will continue to consult workers before deciding on a formal ballot for strike action.
