A BUS operator has announced extra services as a driver strike goes into a second week.

More than 110 First Dorset drivers went on strike in a row over pay this week, and union Unite announced it will continue on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday next week. 


The company has operated 87 per cent of its normal service this week while drivers conducted a five-day walkout. 


In addition to what it has run this week, First will also operate part of the X53, between Weymouth and Bridport, on the forthcoming strike days. It will provide services to and from Abbotsbury, Burton Bradstock, West Bay and holiday parks at Bagwell Farm and Freshwater.

The expected levels of services on the strike days are as follows:
·        Service 1 (Weymouth to Portland):  Operating around every 10 minutes from 07.00 until 19.00.
·        Service 2 (Weymouth to Park & Ride and Littlemoor):  Operating every 10 minutes from 07.00 until 19.00.
·        Service 3 (Weymouth to Westham): Operating every 30 minutes from 07.00 to 19.00.
·        Service 4/4A (Weymouth to Preston and Sutton Poyntz): Operating normally from 07.00 until 17.00.
·        Service 8 (Weymouth to Chickerell):  Operating every 30 minutes from 07.00 to 19.00.
·        Service 10 (Weymouth to Dorchester and Poundbury): Operating around every 10 minutes from 07.00 to 19.00.
·        Service 88 (Preston to Budmouth School): Operating normally.
·        Service X51 (Dorchester to Bridport and Axminster): Operating hourly between 07.00 and 19.00.
·        Service X53 (Weymouth to Bridport and Axminster):  A limited service will operate between Weymouth and Bridport only, on an hourly basis between 07.00 and 19.00.
·        Service X54 (Weymouth, Wareham and Poole):  Only school journeys from Wareham to Lytchett Minster School will operate, nothing else.
·        Service X55: (Weymouth – Lulworth – Bovington):  Operating normally
·        Service 503 (Weymouth to Waterside Holiday Park):  Buses will operate every 30 minutes.
·        Service 743 (Wool – Purbeck School): Operating normally
·        Service 744 (Wool – Purbeck School): Operating normally

Buses that will not run include:
·        Service 6 (Weymouth to Lanehouse and Sailing Academy): Customers are advised to use Service 1, 3 and 8 instead.
·        Service 14 (Portland to Weymouth and Thomas Hardye School): Students advised to use Services 1 and 10 instead.
·        Route 91 (Wyke Regis to Wey Valley School): Students should use local services instead.
·        Service 53 (Bridport to Beaminster): Service will not operate. People wishing to travel in this area are advised to contact Traveline South West for details of other operators’ services.
·        Service X52 (Bridport/Lyme Regis to Exeter):  Customers wanting to travel to Exeter can catch a X51 service to Axminster Railway Station and take a train from there.
·        Service X54 (Weymouth, Wareham and Poole):  No service apart from school journeys from Wareham to Lytchett Minster School which will still operate. Customers are advised to use South West Trains for journeys between Weymouth and Poole
·        Service 501 (Open top bus service between Weymouth to Portland Bill):  Customers wanting to go between Weymouth and Portland are advised to take Service 1 service instead.
·        Service 502 (Lodmoor to Weymouth and Littlesea): Customers are advised to walk to Chickerell Road to catch a Service 8 bus instead.

Between strike days, buses will operate as per the normal timetables.

Yeovil local services 1, 2, 3, 57, 58/58A are unaffected by the industrial action and will operate normally.

Talking about the action taking place, Marc Reddy, Managing Director of First Dorset, said: “We’re really sorry our customers are facing yet more disruption with a further four days of action announced.  

“This action is completely unnecessary. We’ve tabled a number of different pay offers over the past few months, all of which we consider to be fair and reasonable.

“We have been working hard to minimise the impact of the industrial action to date, however the dispute is clearly disruptive, having an impact on people who simply want to use the bus as normal, whether that’s going to school, work or leisure destinations.

“We’d like to sincerely apologise to those people who’ve been affected by this action. We remain committed to resolving the dispute as soon as possible. I’d urge the union to join us in negotiations so that we can settle our differences and provide our customers with the service they expect.”
 

Unite regional officer Bob Lanning told the Dorset Echo earlier this week: "We are faced with an intolerable situation where twice in the last ten days the management have said that they would come to the table with an improved offer – and on both occasions they have not budged.

"This dispute is being pockmarked by the management’s bad faith and broken promises.

"As a result, we are calling four more days of strike action next week as our members are very angry at the management’s duplicity."

Customers wanting more information about services during the industrial action can also contact First Bus’s Customer Services Team, email ContactDorset@firstgroup.com or telephone 0345 6020121