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Wednesday September 7 | 2022
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Summer of strikes continues as bus and train drivers walk out
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PICKET Members of the Unite union outside the Arriva bus depot in Kingstanding Way
By Richard Williams COMMUTERS and pupils returning to school have been told to expect continued disruption this month as a raft of strikes have been planned by bus and train operators. On Monday this week, drivers and workers at Arriva – the largest bus operator in Kent – walked out over pay, seeing nearly all its bus services in Tunbridge Wells cancelled. The industrial action saw around 600 workers who belong to the Unite union down tools at depots across Kent including in Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells as well as at depots in Northfleet, Gillingham and Maidstone.
Further strike action is also planned for next Friday (September 16) as well as Tuesday, September 20 and Friday, September 30.
‘Disruption to rail services is likely to go into the next day when the second Arriva bus strike takes place’ The walk outs, which were balloted for last month, had been delayed while negotiations with Unite officials and Arriva bosses took place. But in a statement last week, the bus company, which is owned by German
firm Deutsche Bahn, conceded that talks had broken down, despite a 7.8 per cent pay offer. The statement read: “Despite further negotiations with our union partner this week, we are extremely disappointed for all our customers to confirm that industrial action will take place across Northfleet, Gillingham, Maidstone and Turnbridge Wells on Monday, September 5 and on Friday, September 16.” The statement continued: “Arriva remains committed to resolving the industrial action and would encourage Unite to ballot on this latest pay offer.
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Jack Vettriano (1951-), ‘The Critical Hour of 3am’, oil on canvas
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