MORE than 300 workers began a two-day strike at bus company First South West over a pay and working conditions row today.

RMT union members set up picket lines across the region after the company “repeatedly failed to put forward acceptable offers to bus workers, despite the parent company, First Group, announcing pre-tax profits of £139 million, up 33 per cent from the previous year.”

The offers did not meet the members' aspirations, were only aimed at bus drivers, and excluded other grades such as engineers, supervisors, clerical staff, and cleaners, the union said.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “First South West has shown no interest in trying to genuinely settle this dispute or look after the best interest of their employees.”

Senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said members were furious at the company giving them 24 hours to accept or reject their offer.

He accused the company of illegally asking workers to vote on the offer via a workplace app, breaking a prohibition on inducing workers to break away from collective bargaining agreements with their union. 

A First South West spokeswoman accused RMT of refusing to put its improved offer to its members, adding: “We made a substantial, above inflation offer of five per cent for all pay grades, which follows a significant pay increase of 17.6 per cent in December 2022.

“The RMT’s unwillingness to work with us not only impacts our colleagues but causes unnecessary disruption to our passengers who rely on the bus for work, education and important appointments.”