Aberdeen

Positive and productive talks lead to further revised pay offer

Bus operator First in Aberdeen and Unite the Union have concluded productive and meaningful talks this afternoon (Friday 4 September) with a further revised pay offer being put forward for the union's consideration.

The talks and the revised offer are the latest developments in a series of negotiations designed to reach agreement and prevent further strike action ahead of next week's Offshore Europe event in the city.

Unite will now hold a specially-convened meeting this evening, where union officials will brief their Union members in attendance on the offer.

The Union Negotiating Team will be strongly recommending its acceptance.

If feedback from the staff is positive this evening, Unite will suspend all planned strike action next week.

A Union consultative workplace ballot on the revised offer will take place over the weekend and throughout Monday, with the result announced early evening.

Bob Dorr, Managing Director of First in Aberdeen, said: "Significant progress has been made today and we are very pleased the union is taking such swift action and discussing our further revised offer with members this evening. We hope that with a strong recommendation from the union, there will be a positive response - this will mean next week's strike action is suspended, which is good news all round. Both First and Unite are keen to reach a resolution as soon as possible and we hope this is the start of that process."

Tommy Campbell, Unite Regional Industrial Organiser, added: "We welcomed the opportunity to have further talks today. We do wish to resolve this dispute and hopefully with this revised offer, it will be enough to bring the dispute to an end."