NORTH Wales bus drivers have voted to accept an improved pay offer.

Following a ballot of over 400 drivers, Unite the union members working for Arriva Cymru have voted to accept an offer of a gradual rise from £11.30 to £12 an hour for its members.

The agreement followed a period of strike action which ran from November 14 and November 18 - during which no Arriva buses ran in North Wales, affecting services into Chester.

The full details of the pay offer are as follows: 

• An increase on the hourly rate from £11.30 to £11.40 from January 2021 to the end of March 2021.

• A further increase on the hourly rate from £11.40 to £11.64 from April 2021 to the end of March 2022.

• An increase on the hourly rate from £11.64 to £12.00 from April 2022 to the end of December 2022.

• The proposed 2021 increases will result in an approximate back pay of £575, and an increase in basic pay across the two-year deal of £1,251.

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: “This deal achieves Unites aim of securing a £12 per hour for our members at Arriva Cymru.

"It is another example of Unite showing that it is not prepared to accept poverty pay rates for our members. We will build upon this deal as we continue our fight to improve terms and conditions across the Welsh transport sector."

Jo Goodchild, Unite Regional Officer, added: "Our members were united during this dispute and have received their reward with a greatly improved pay offer. Unite is extremely proud of the way Arriva drivers stood strong and united throughout this dispute.

"This strike has highlighted the scourge of low pay, not just within Arriva Cymru but across the Welsh transport sector. With deregulation of passenger transport coming to an end in Wales we have called upon Welsh Government to use the opportunity to introduce a system of sectoral bargaining.

"Through this we can work to end the continuous race to the bottom which has driven down pay rates over the years."