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Bus strikes end as pay deal accepted

Saturday, 29 November 2025 08:52

By Gareth Joy X @lookoutwales2

First Cymru

A pay dispute which led to strike action on First Cymru buses has ended after workers accepted a new deal.

Two four-day strikes affected First Cymru services across South and West Wales, including routes in and around Llantwit Major.

The Unite union suspended plans to escalate their industrial action - including a nine-week strike which would have run until late January - after receieving an above-inflation pay offer.

First Cymru said it was pleased the threat of further strike action has been lifted.

On Friday, members voted in favour of a 5% rise backdated to 1st April, which will see drivers pay move to £14.25 per hour - and towards £15 from 1st January 2027.

Unite described the outcome as a "significant and well deserved victory" following a week-long ballot of its members.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: "There is power in a union and the victory achieved by First Cymru workers in south Wales is a testament to the power of workers coming together and fighting for what they merit."

"First Cymru workers deserve the credit for standing firm and being prepared to take strike action to reach their aims against an employer who had been set on cutting real-terms pay."

The new pay deal also applies to engineers, administrative and service personnel, while cleaners will get a temporary pay rise until 1st April 2026, when the Real Living Wage increases to £13.45 per hour.

Doug Claringbold, First Cymru's managing director, said: "This agreement provides certainty for our teams and our customers, and enables us to move forward together."

"Our priority now is to restore confidence and deliver the reliable, consistent services that our communities depend on every day."

"We want to thank our customers for their patience during this period of uncertainty, and we look forward to welcoming back anyone who may have been affected by the recent disruption."

During the dispute, Unite said First Cymru had paid just £13.40 per hour for drivers, compared to £14.44 for Stagecoach drivers in South Wales and £15 an hour at Cardiff Bus.

Earlier this year, a threatened strike by 450 workers at Cardiff Bus was averted after a new deal on pay and conditions was agreed.

Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy said: "Unite members at First Cymru have shown the power of collective action, winning this dispute to gain a much-improved pay award from their employer."

"However, the fact that they had to take strike action at all should be a real concern for key stakeholders in Transport For Wales and the Welsh Government."

"The fact remains that these workers will still be among the lowest paid in the sector. Steps must be taken to ensure that low pay is eliminated in our Welsh bus sector, under the new franchising model."

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