STAGECOACH bus drivers say they will strike for almost two months amid an ongoing row over pay, with services in Herefordshire expected to be affected.

The Unite union said talks with Stagecoach had failed, meaning industrial action would "escalate further".

Unite has been calling for a £10.50 per hour wage for its members, something which had been approved by other Stagecoach branches – but not in South Wales.

The firm said it had table an offer of £10.30, backdated to April, but this was not accepted in talks.

It means services from Hereford into Wales are likely to be affected by strikes until January.

Ten days of strike action have already taken place at depots in Blackwood, Brynmawr and Cwmbran, but that will now be followed by a continuous strike from November 17 until January 10.

The X3, between Hereford and Cardiff, has been one of the routes affected by recent strikes, but Stagecoach has not yet said which routes will be hit by the two-month strike.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is determined to fight for a better deal for our members at Stagecoach.

"We will not accept workers in South Wales receiving inferior pay to their colleagues in other parts of the UK.

"This dispute will now escalate and Unite will back our members with all of its strength and resources."

Unite has also claimed that managing directors at Stagecoach in South Wales have seen their own pay rise compared to drivers.

Unite regional officer Alan McCarthy said: “We are bitterly disappointed by the approach of Stagecoach management at today’s ACAS talks.

"Our reasonable proposals to end this dispute were rejected out of hand, by an employer seemingly hell bent on maintaining low pay.

"Drivers have seen their pay increase by less than 75p per hour between 2016 and 2020 whilst the Directors annual pay rose from £93,000 to £180,000.

"In the light of this gross hypocrisy our members are more resolute than ever and will not back down in this dispute.”

Stagecoach criticised what it said was an attempt by Unite to "mislead employees and the local community" about the pay of Stagecoach management in Wales.

"The company made clear that no senior executives in Wales or elsewhere have had salary increases or bonuses in the past two years," a spokesperson said.

"In addition, executives voluntarily took pay cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic."

In response, Stagecoach said it is offering an 11 per cent pay rise, but it Unite wasn't prepared to reduce demands.

A spokeswoman said: "We remain 100 per cent committed to reaching a negotiated pay agreement, as we have done successfully elsewhere in Wales and as has been achieved for thousands of other Stagecoach employees at depots across the UK.

"We have been flexible throughout our discussions with Unite, significantly improving both the proposed pay rate and associated conditions.

"Our package offers our people an 11 per cent pay increase right now and protects the collective agreements we have on breaks and sick pay.

"In contrast, it is disappointing the union has refused to move an inch in its position and, counter to the spirit of achieving a jointly-brokered solution, has chosen to announce further strike action.

“Our employees deserve a good pay rise and that can only be achieved by constructive engagement by all concerned.

"Strike action will not only impact our customers. It will also hit the pockets of our people, impact the money available to fund improved pay, and damage our ability to protect jobs and services, and bounce back from the pandemic."