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Monday’s Arriva bus strike WILL go ahead after crisis talks between trade unions and the company ended without a deal.

Officials from Arriva and from unions Unite and the GMB met this lunchtime to see if they could thrash out a deal.

Unite says the company upped its offer by just 1p an hour – 2p less than it wanted. And while members will be balloted over Arriva’s offer, union leaders expect the deal will be rejected.

That means drivers and engineers will walk out ELEVEN times between now and Christmas.

The next strike will take place on Monday, with another scheduled for Monday, November 27.

Nine days of action have also been scheduled for December, including a four-day period leading up to Christmas Eve.

John Boughton, regional industrial organiser at Unite, said: “The trade union came to the meeting today with the hope that we could resolve what has become an increasingly bitter dispute over pay.

“We are extremely disappointed that the company only increased its offer by a further 1p. That amount will not resolve this dispute.”

Mr Boughton said he was “extremely disappointed” that a deal had not been reached.

He added: “We will be balloting our members next week on this offer.

“The action will still take place on Monday.

(Image: James Maloney)

“We are recommending that our members will reject this offer because we believe the company CAN pay this additional amount of money.

“As a consequence we believe our members will reject this offer overwhelmingly.

“The overwhelming message that we got when we spoke to our members on the picket line last week was that they felt this was a just claim.”

Phil Stone, MD for Arriva North West: “Arriva tabled a further improved and final offer for our drivers at a meeting with UNITE and GMB today [17th November]. We have listened to the Union and responded positively by offering a one year pay deal that ensures the hourly rates of all our drivers remains highly competitive within the industry.

“The offer for Merseyside is 2.6% rising to 3% after 6 months. This is now the fourth improved pay offer that Arriva has made since commencement of the strike action. 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.”

Eddie Parker, GMB Organiser, said: “This below inflation offer is an insult to GMB’s Arriva members, to the people in the areas where Arriva operates and to the businesses and commuters who will be affected by further strike action.

“Management has shown utter contempt to workers who are fighting to stop their pay being eroded by the impact of inflation – which this week hit 4%.

“The company has made a cynical decision to put more profit before the needs of the communities they serve."