900 bus workers at German-owned bus company Arriva will strike from 3.00am on September 5 to 2.59am on September 7, against pay cuts.

Extensive strikes will be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved.

Arriva has offered drivers, admin staff, engineers, cleaners and shunters pay rises of between four per cent and six per cent. But with the rate of inflation, RPI, running at 12.3 percent. Unite claims this as a pay cut in real terms.

Unite regional officer Jeff Hodge said: “Our members are striking as a last resort because Arriva is refusing to offer a reasonable pay rise, despite being more than able to afford to. The company is responsible for the severe disruption these strikes will cause. We urge them to return with an offer our members can accept to end this dispute as soon as possible.”

Strikes by staff will happen at Arriva’s depots in Luton, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Ware, Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead. They would severely impact bus services within, to and from Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.

A further addition in the dispute is that the pay offer for drivers is tied to a reduction of 16.6 per cent in overtime rates. The company also want to end paid time for compulsory duties outside of driving, such as travelling to a bus stop or to pick up a bus mid-route.

Unite say more strikes will be timetabled if the dispute is not resolved.

HertsLive have contacted Arriva for a response.