450 Cardiff Bus workers are to go on strike for three weeks in a row over pay and conditions.
The Unite union says members rejected the company's latest offer of 5.86%, which "leaves driver pay below levels in the rest of the UK".
The strike is set to be held from Sunday 17th August until the morning of Sunday 7th September, after 90% of members balloted voted in favour of industrial action.
It's likely to affect some travel arrangements for entertainment events in the Welsh capital, including shows at Cardiff Castle featuring Sir Tom Jones, Will Smith and Basement Jaxx.
It will also affect services in and around the Barry and Penarth areas, including extra Sunday buses to Barry Island for the summer holidays.
Cardiff Bus says it's disappointed by the announcement and remains committed to talks to resolve the dispute.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Cardiff Bus has long ignored low rates of pay and our hardworking members have rightfully had enough of the situation.
"These workers provide a vital frontline service and deserve to be compensated fairly. Any disruption is the fault of Cardiff Bus and our members there have Unite's full backing every step of the way in this dispute."
Unite argues that timetable issues mean workers have been unable to take proper breaks and face long walking times to break facilities.
According to a spokesperson: "Workers have found this means their required breaks are disrupted while running late and there has been little support being given from the employer to ensure they can rest or eat properly between journeys."
"The stress and fatigue that can result from this can lead to drivers going sick and when they do their income is decimated by doing so as unfair sick pay rates are another concern for workers at Cardiff Bus."
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government set out plans for a new franchise system with bus operators bidding for contracts instead of runnng their own routes.
The bill is due for Royal Assent early next year, although it could take until the decade for the new system to become a reality.
But Unite says low pay rates in the sector, which has struggled to see passenger numbers recover post-Covid, raises "fears of a race of the bottom" on pay and conditions.
A spokesperson argued franchising would also run the risk of creating a two-tier pay system, with workers moving in and out of companies.
Already, 15 staff at Cardiff Bus, who work on certain contracted routes affilated with local NHS hospitals, are expected to work longer hours because they are excluded from local agreements on terms & conditions.
Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy added: "Members really do not want to find themselves taking strike action and disrupting their passengers and people visiting Cardiff however the low pay offer and poor conditions have left them with little choice."
"We don't tolerate this in our publicly owned rail network. Why should we tolerate this in our publicly owned bus companies?"
"We urge Cardiff Bus and other key stakeholders across the bus sector to pay attention to what workers are telling them as we approach franchising. Bus workers have been undervalued for far too long."
A Cardiff Bus spokesperson told Bro Radio News: "We are disappointed to have received notice from Unite the Union of the intent for their members to take part in strike action from 17th August to 7th September 2025 in response to the ongoing dispute."
"We have so far worked in an open and transparent fashion which has culminated in what we believe is a substantial offer of 5.86% to increase rates of pay.
"Cardiff Bus terms and conditions are considered market leading in Wales and we have been a real living wage employer for over ten years demonstrating our commitment to pay a fair wage to our workforce."
"We are committed to ongoing negotiation with Unite the Union representatives in pursuit of a resolution to this dispute, so we can continue providing the best possible service to our customers."
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