MORE than 3,000 National Express bus drivers and about 250 office staff will be balloted for strikes over take-home pay cuts, their union Unite announced yesterday.

If the workers, who run local buses across the West Midlands, back walkouts in the vote, they will join about 200 of the firm’s engineers who have already voted for strikes. 

Despite registering £300 million in profits in 2021, the company has offered its drivers in the region a below-inflation 8 per cent wage boost, according to the union.