Go North East has been accused of "forgetting its roots and communities" amid strike action from its drivers that could see passengers left without bus routes for up to 12 weeks. 

The regional company is currently locked in a pay dispute with Unite the Union, with the industrial action set to go into its second full week.

But the transport business, with hubs across the region, has claimed that it's Unite that is "slowing down" negotiations" and "dragging their heels" when it comes to strike action. 

The Northern Echo: A Go North East bus on the roadsA Go North East bus on the roads (Image: GO NORTH EAST)

On Friday (November 3), Unite accused Go North East of "losing its roots" and called on the management at the company to consider the communities that helped launch their business in the 1980s.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, has claimed that Go-ahead, the parent company of Go North East, has decided to let down that same community and its workforce, despite having made profits of £85million.

She said: “The Go-Ahead group has plenty of money and doesn’t hesitate to pay its CEO a six figure salary but won’t stump up the cash for those who do the real work driving its buses.

“Go North East was built on the backs of workers on Tyneside and yet it has now forgotten the communities that helped build its transport empire. Unite will fully support our members in their fight for fair pay.”

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However, Go North East has hit back at Unite, highlighting that they have tabled several pay offers, and claim the union will "strike whatever we put on the table. 

Business Director at Go North East, Ben Maxfield, said: "In a bid to prevent this industrial action we have tabled an offer that we believe is the best offer made to Go North East region drivers in many years.

"It’s not in our interests, or our passengers’ interests, to have a strike, but unfortunately it appears that the union is 100% determined to force a strike, whatever we put on the table." 

According to Unite, the drivers’ rate of pay at Go North East is £12.83 per hour and claim the same workers at Go North West earn £15.53 per hour; equating to a loss of £105 per week on a 39-hour week or £5,475 per year.

But Go North East say this isn't true, with Mr Maxfield adding: "UNITE has stated, quite clearly, that they are striking over what they claim is pay inequality.

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"They say the crux of this dispute is that they are paid more poorly than Go-Ahead drivers in other regions. The bottom line is that this simply isn’t true.

"While headline hourly rates vary across the UK, factors such as other pay package benefits and cost of living indices for different regions must be considered to achieve a true comparison."

It's expected that the strike action, which could last up to 12 weeks, and impact both the fireworks display in Saltwell Park in Gateshead and Newcastle United’s home game against Arsenal on Saturday, November 4.