PAY talks to avert more bus strikes broke up today after the Arriva North West bosses offered an ‘insulting’ one penny extra to the hourly rate, claims the union Unite.

Talks were held as more than 2,000 bus drivers and engineering staff are set to hold nine days of strike action in the run-up to Christmas.

Unite said that the management had today offered an additional one penny per hour on its previous offer.

The union will ballot its members next week on the latest offer, with the strong recommendation to reject.

Arriva workers will walk out of 11 depots on December 4, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22 and 2.

Strikes had already been announced for November 20 and 27.

The company presented its final offer with conditions attached which were completely unacceptable to the Unite and GMB trade unions.

Unite regional officer John Boughton said: “This below inflation final offer is an insult to Arriva employees, to the people in the communities in which Arriva operates and to businesses which will be affected by further strike action.

“This offer shows the contempt for workers who are fighting to stop their pay being eroded by the impact of inflation. The company has made a cynical decision to put more profit before the needs of the communities it serves.

“The latest offer was insulting and very demeaning from a company owned by the German transport giant Deutsche Bahn AG with huge financial resources. The unions believe the pay claim is affordable given the high profitability of Arriva North West.

“The announcement of nine new strike dates in the run-up to Christmas will be inconvenient for the travelling public, but our members are reluctantly taking this action as they have hit a brick wall with an intransigent management.

“We want an equitable pay award across the company and for Arriva to tackle wage inequalities of up to £1.73 an hour between depots, as our members are struggling generally with the constant rising cost of living.

"The bosses know what would settle this dispute, and it's not a king's ransom as this company makes huge profits. All our members want is a fair share of the profits they help generate by their dedicated work in all weathers."

Arriva bus depots affected by the strikes include Runcorn, St Helens, Birkenhead, Bolton, Bootle, Green Lane (Stoneycroft), Macclesfield, Runcorn, Speke, Southport, Winsford and Wythenshaw.

Phil Stone, managing director for Arriva North West: “Arriva tabled a further improved and final offer for our drivers at a meeting with Unite and GMB.

“We have listened to the union and responded with a final pay offer that ensures the hourly rates of all our drivers remains highly competitive within the industry. 

“It is a fair pay deal for our drivers and one that importantly ensures the long-term sustainability of the business going forward.

“In the interests of our drivers and our customers, we have recommended that the union undertakes a confidential postal ballot for the membership facilitated by ACAS, the costs of which Arriva will cover. But the Union have declined this and have confirmed they will be doing a consultative ballot at each garage next week.

“The union has planned 11 more days of disruption for our customers. We hope this generous pay offer will be accepted and bring an end to the strike action.”