'Why are Welsh drivers being paid less than their counterparts in England?'
Plaid Cymru's North Wales MS has urged Arriva Bus Cymru to settle the strike with 400 bus drivers across the North, which is now entering its third day.
The strike was called by Unite bus drivers after the company refused to match its offer in Wales with the 39p offer it made bus drivers in north-west England.
Llyr Gruffydd MS said: "This is an industrial action that need not have happened. Arriva has offered its workforce in England a 39p an hour pay rise while in Wales it's offering 29p an hour. The pay differential is now £2.20 an hour between Wales and the north-west of England. Can someone in the company explain to me why they pay Welsh workers so little? There is no justification and it's completely understandable that bus drivers feel they have no alternative but to take action.
"These are key workers who were lauded during lockdown as heroes. Well, let's treat them like heroes and give them and other key workers a proper pay rise.
"I know that the strike has hit hard in terms of people being unable to get to work, to college and other journeys. It will be hitting businesses that rely on people travelling by bus so that's why I'm urging Arriva Bus to get back round the table to sort this strike out as soon as possible."
The strike has impacted on bus services across the North and is proposed to continue until December 19th unless there is a resolution. Arriva Bus Cymru is owned by Deutsche Bahn, the German state-owned railway company.
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