Bus drivers facing pay cut

Bus drivers in the West Midlands are being asked to take pay cuts of up to 11 per cent just a day after fare increases were announced.

National Express West Midlands, which runs eight out of 10 services in the region, has offered its drivers a lump sum payment in return for taking a salary cut.

They are also being asked to lose five days' holiday as part of a package of measures.

The company operates more than 1,600 buses on 450 routes and employs 5,800 people in the West Midlands and Dundee, where services are controlled by the head office in Birmingham.

Of those, around 3,500 are drivers, who are paid on four pay streams.

Those on the top tier, who currently earn £10.60-an-hour, have been asked to accept a drop in wage to £9.40-an-hour in return for a lump sum payment of £5,100.

It is part of a move to create a single wage tier, which will involve some drivers currently on £8.40-an-hour seeing their pay increase.

National Express West Midlands managing director Neil Barker said: "We have written to all drivers inviting them to take a voluntary amendment to pay in return for a lump sum payment.

"Discussions with the unions have taken place - it is entirely voluntary and no one will be forced to change their rate of pay."

From yesterday adult regional daysaver tickets went up from £3.30 to £3.50, while evening saver tickets will now set passengers back £3, rather than £2.20.

Family daysaver tickets are £7.50, up from £6.50, and a one-way short adult fare rose from £1.20 to £1.50. Single tickets for children went up by 25 per cent from 60p to 75p.

It still costs £1.70 for a full fare ticket for any journey longer than two stops.

The company blamed rising costs and said it had managed to hold fares for 18 months.