Hundreds of bus workers at First Cymru in South Wales are dramatically escalating their strike action in a row with their employer over pay.
Workers are furious at the rates of pay and the attempts by First Cymru to refuse to pay back-pay from the pay anniversary, according to Unite the Union.
Strikes will now take place from 20 November continuously until 21 January.
Drivers feel they have been left with little choice but to escalate strike action. In a statement issued by Unite, they say ‘the continued withholding of agreed back pay and the £50 “bung payment” the company offered to workers to break the own picket line has greatly increased the anger and frustration.’
Drivers are said to be asking for a reasonable rate of pay that takes the current cost of living and inflation into account.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“First Cymru is trying to take industrial relations back to the dark ages with its refusal to pay monies owed, attempts at union-busting to get staff to cross picket lines and all the while paying some of the lowest wages in the industry. Unite never stands for such behaviour. First needs to think again about how it is treating its workforce.”
The union said First Cymru pay just £13.40 per hour for drivers, despite the skills needed to drive packed buses on busy roads in all weathers while experiencing regular abuse from passengers. Cardiff Bus drivers earn significantly more at £15 per hour, Arriva in North Wales are also on £15 per hour base rate, Stagecoach in South Wales are currently on £14.44 per hour, and Newport Transport are on £14.50 per hour.
Unite also say First Cymru may become the only major operator still using a “new starter rate” with drivers having to wait a year to qualify for the standard rate of pay. The Real Living Wage is rising to £13.45 in April 2026.
First Cymru is part of the First Group transport network. In the last financial year First Group made over £200 million profit and Unite say they paid its chief executive over £3 million.
The dispute covers workers operating from depots in Swansea, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Carmarthen, Haverford West and Ammanford
Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy added:
“The pressures of the role are clear. Driving a bus is a highly skilled job. Yet drivers for First Cymru are treated like second class citizens and have reached the end of their tether. They are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table for their families. Unite will be backing them every step of the way in this dispute.
“The communities of South Wales have been let down by First who see fit to short-change their drivers and will now see the consequences of this as our members take to the picket line.”
Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Bus in Cymru said:
“We, like our customers, are deeply frustrated that the union has announced two full months of strikes in south and west Wales from November 20 and continuing right through to January 21. These are unnecessary and, most importantly, they will be hugely disruptive to our customers during the festive period when many hope to use buses to shop, meet friends and family and enjoy Christmas parties. It is within the hands of the union to stop this action.
“We have always maintained an open dialogue with the union and while they continue to reject our offers we still hope to find a solution to encourage the union to call off their strikes.
“We have been committed to improving the pay of drivers, and alongside our above inflation offer, we continue to invest in staff facilities and conditions, and a range of benefits, including healthcare schemes.
“We will continue to keep as many services running as possible, but announcing even more strikes is severely disrupting the public’s travel plans and damaging the reputation of bus travel in Wales.
“Our revised timetables will be available on our website shortly, and we will review these over the coming weeks to ensure we get as many buses out as possible for our customers. We encourage customers to check our website for more details before travelling.”
