Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:07 pm on 17 November 2021.
Thank you to my colleague Jack Sargeant for bringing this topical question to our attention today. Deputy Minister, the current strike action by drivers employed by Arriva Buses Wales is, without a doubt, causing considerable disruption to the lives of people across north Wales, particularly the elderly and vulnerable who do not have access to other forms of transportation. I agree with my colleague Jack that the crux of the issue is pay parity with drivers in the north-west of England, who are paid more per hour than their counterparts in north Wales. There are parallels here with the recent dispute at Stagecoach, caused by drivers in Wales being paid less per hour than those in England, which has been settled amicably with a £1 per hour pay rise. It shows that good can be done on both sides when they negotiate with flexibility and also in good faith. Now, I know that there has been a mention of the Thatcher days, but let's focus on 2021, where we're all right now. So, Deputy Minister, will you join me in urging both sides to seek a just resolution to this dispute as soon as possible, and, if this is not forthcoming in the short term, encourage both parties to use the arbitration services to settle this, so that bus services may be restored to the people of north Wales? Thank you.