Cambridge bus strikes have continued into the new year after trade union Unite and Stagecoach East failed to reach a settlement in two rounds of pay negotiations.

Around 200 Stagecoach East drivers and engineers are continuing industrial action that began over the Christmas period. There were further strikes on 5 and 10 January, with more strikes expected next Monday (19/01) and the following Saturday (24/01).

Most services will operate at a reduced rate on these dates, with the exception of 905, Citi 5, 5A, Busway A, Busway B, and Park and Ride services.

Stagecoach East has advised customers to purchase their tickets before they board as a limited range of on-board tickets are available on strike days. The company says it has brought in additional drivers from elsewhere in the country to manage during strike days.

Unite is striking for a 9% pay increase within 12 months to approximately £17 an hour for drivers, arguing that its members “wanted a pay increase that reflects extremely difficult demands of the job and the rising cost of living”.

Following several negotiation meetings between Stagecoach and Unite in December and January, Stagecoach East enacted a pay increase of 4% for workers from 28 December onwards. Managing director Darren Roe said that this was “also the same 4% pay rise that was awarded to other groups within the business”.

Unite rejected this pay offer and said it would “escalate” strike action if there was no agreement to resolve the dispute.

Roe called the strikes “unnecessary” and said he was “very disappointed” about the decision and its impact on services in Cambridge.

In his latest statement, he added: “I would encourage those still participating in industrial action to return to work, and, whilst the pay talks are concluded, my door will remain open to the trade union should they wish to come and talk to us”.

Stagecoach East also claimed that an “expectation of a 9% pay award, when inflation is currently 3.2%, is simply unachievable”.

Mark Plumb, Unite’s regional representative, said that the 4% pay award had been “imposed” on drivers who had “an aspiration to achieve an above-inflation pay award”.

While acknowledging that members had “received inflation-plus increases” from Stagecoach in the past, he also contended that staff “continue to contribute to” the company’s profits.

Plumb added that strikes were a “last resort for us and our members,” but that disruption “is entirely the fault of Stagecoach for refusing to put forward a reasonable pay offer”.

“There is still time to call the strikes off, but for that to happen Stagecoach must come back with an offer that is acceptable to our members,” he continued.