A PLANNED strike by bus drivers has been averted after they accepted a revised pay offer from company bosses.
Drivers with Go Northern - part of North-East transport firm Go-Ahead - voted to accept the 3.8 per cent rise at a ballot on Thursday. But drivers with sister company Go Gateshead rejected an offer of four per cent over 12 months and negotiations will continue.
About 600 drivers were due to begin one-day stoppages yesterday, but this was suspended during votes on the proposals.
A Go-Ahead spokesman said: "The pay award has been accepted. We will be implementing that as soon as possible."
No one from the Transport and General Workers Union, which is negotiating for the Gateshead drivers, was available for comment yesterday.
Go Northern operates services in the Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Consett areas of County Durham
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