A top North East transport boss has laid bare the issues with the ongoing Go North East bus strikes by highlighting that people must take expensive taxis as an alternative. 

Cllr Martin Gannon, who is the chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, has called for a resolution to the continuous strike action, which has seen drivers at Go North East taking part in industrial action. 

The regional transport group held talks with the union on Monday (November 6) in a bid to resolve the Go North East driver pay dispute that has been ongoing for weeks.

The Northern Echo: A Go North East busA Go North East bus (Image: GO NORTH EAST)

At the end of the negotiations, both sides claimed that talks failed after a lack of 'understanding' from the opposite side of the industrial action.

According to Go North East, Unite demanded pay rises every six months in return for calling off their strike before refusing to continue talks after four hours. 

However, Unite has said that the dispute can be resolved for around £238,000, less than the pay of two Go North East directors.

The union has calculated that the dispute can be ended with just 0.28% of the annual profit of the Go North East group.

The Northern Echo: Cllr Martin Gannon, who is the chair of the North East Joint Transport CommitteeCllr Martin Gannon, who is the chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee (Image: TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH)

Days on from the failed negotiations between Go North East and Unite, Mr Gannon has noted the harm that this industrial action is causing to people who usually rely on the bus. 

He said: “This situation is dire and is causing real harm to people and communities in Gateshead and across the region.  We are ten days into a continuous bus strike – following two earlier separate week-long strike periods. 

“Go North East says that normally around 175,000 journeys are made on its bus services every day, and behind that statistic sit 175,000 stories of real people who are now struggling to get around. 

"Thousands of people are stuck at home, isolated from friends and family, missing work and medical appointments or being late for college. I’ve heard about people staying with friends so that they are near their work and others who are seriously considering moving home because of this. 

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“Some people are having to shell out repeatedly for expensive taxis just to go about their daily lives, or to beg friends and neighbours for a lift.  Our town and city centres are in gridlock. It is an absolute disgrace."

The transport boss has also highlighted that he believes "the commercial bus market is completely broken and does not work for local people". 

Mr Gannon added: “The management of Go North East needs to stop putting out aggressive communications and instead roll up its sleeves, today – right now, and work constructively with its employees and their trade union to get the buses running again tomorrow.”

In relation to the ongoing pay dispute, Go North East business director, Ben Maxfield said: 

“We recognise the harm that Unite’s strike is doing to communities in the north-east and we are doing everything possible to resolve it. That is why we asked the arbitration service ACAS to convene talks earlier this week in the hope of reaching a settlement. Unfortunately, far from negotiating, Unite abruptly increased its pay demands and then walked out after four hours.

"Our pay offer of 10.3% makes our drivers the best paid in the North East. It follows a 10% pay rise last year and means an extra £3,000 annually for many, we have further committed to an inflation proofed increase in 2024. This is the highest pay offer ever given by Go North East and represents our dedication to table the best pay proposal we possibly can.

We remain committed to dialogue with Unite and we would like to see an end to this strike for the sake of drivers, our customers and our communities. To that end, we urge Unite to reconsider its position and engage in constructive talks with us.

"In the meantime, we are working closely with local authorities to operate 80 buses that ensure children can get to school and nurses can get to hospitals.”

The Northern Echo: A Go North East busA Go North East bus (Image: GO NORTH EAST)

“Passengers are facing unacceptable levels of hardship. But instead of a constructive dialogue, all we get from the local Unite representatives is a set of moving goalposts, escalating demands, and a succession of U-turns.”

Unite regional officer Dave Telford added: "Our members’ resolve has not waivered, and we will not back down until we have victory in this dispute.

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"We put various offers on the table today for the employer to accept and every time Go North East just refused to budge.

"There is only one party currently wishing to negotiate and that’s Unite.

"I urge Go North East to put their hands in their pockets and come up with the money that it will cost them to end this dispute."