MORE than 1,300 First Bus Glasgow drivers are to be balloted for industrial action after they overwhelmingly rejected the company’s pay offer, Unite Scotland has confirmed.

Unite is highlighting the increasing number of bus drivers who are leaving the industry to find better-paid jobs elsewhere which is having negative knock-on effects on the availability of bus services and routes. 

The trade union has warned that due to low pay, shift work and poor terms and conditions across the bus industry, driver shortages are now becoming endemic in certain areas of Scotland. 

Mick Dowds, First Bus Glasgow Unite convener, added: “First Glasgow needs to stop the flood of drivers leaving its company, and it needs to start retaining and attracting new drivers.

“The only way which this can be done is through decent pay, and decent terms and conditions.”

A First spokesperson told the Star that driver shortages were due to a range of factors, and that talks with Unite were ongoing.