Bus drivers in Weymouth, Dorset have secured an 8.2% pay rise from November after their union agreed a deal with operator First Wessex.
The Unite union said the agreement, which it has been negotiating since last October, was a “significant” victory for the approximately 120 drivers.
The drivers will receive an initial 4.4% rise from April, with the further 3.8% following from November.
Unite pointed that, without the deal, Weymouth could have been struggling to staff its buses, as there is already a shortage of drivers across the region, and drivers would simply have left for other less stressful driving roles.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This pay victory at Weymouth is a great win for Unite members, especially as the First Wessex management has a record of holding down workers’ pay.”
And local regional official Janet Wall added: “We urge First Wessex to work positively with Unite as we go forward from here.”
First Wessex has been approached for comment.