Drivers strike against First Bus’ two-tier pay system in a fight for fairness and parity. John Westmoreland reports from the picket

Drivers at First Bus in Doncaster have vowed to escalate their action in pursuit of equal pay with their colleagues in Sheffield. Monday was the fifth strike day and more are planned.

The picket lines are impressive, with most drivers on strike turning out and standing together. The strike over equal pay is particularly poignant in a low-wage town like Doncaster. The public are supportive, and share the drivers’ view that First Bus are taking liberties.

Unite steward, Richard Bailey, says, ‘The strike is about the employer’s greed. All we want is parity with drivers in Sheffield who are doing exactly the same job but for more money. It is an insult’.

Drivers in Sheffield are currently earning £1.35 an hour more than Doncaster drivers. Asked whether drivers in Sheffield are offering solidarity, Richard replied that, ‘We are getting some, but our previous branch committee made the wrong decision in negotiating separately from Sheffield. Some Sheffield drivers are saying we reap what we’ve sown, but if First get away with it they may well try to use our settlement to attack pay in Sheffield’.

With fuel prices rising it is likely bus and transport companies are going to be looking to reduce wages to protect their profits. But we are going to need more public transport if fuel inflation continues, and drivers have every right to protect their wages and conditions.

First Group is a highly profitable company. It saw revenues rise 30 per cent to £833.6m for the half year ending September 2025.

Unite regional officer Christian Ratcliffe’s press statement is clear: 

‘Escalating strike action will be very disruptive, but it is entirely the fault of First Bus for creating a two-tier pay system.

‘Drivers at First South Yorkshire feel they have no choice but to continue to take action to make their voices heard. First Bus must reconsider its actions to avoid further industrial action’. 

For drivers in Doncaster to win they might have to go beyond selective strike action and think about going all out. As Richard Bailey says, ‘If that’s what the members want, that’s what we’ll do’.