Bus drivers based at Stagecoach West’s Ross depot will join a planned strike over pay unless an agreement can be reached.

Unite the Union has announced “overwhelming support” among its members employed by the company for strike action which is due to start on Thursday, March 10.

Both Unite and Stagecoach say they are keen to find a resolution to avert the walkout which is due to last until Wednesday, April 9.

The company says it supports affordable pay rises but some of the union’s demands would have put services at risk.

Stagecoach runs services linking Ross with Gloucester, Hereford, Monmouth and Cinderford.

The company stopped running its 132 service from Ledbury to Gloucester via Ross last week, citing low passenger numbers and financial losses on the route.

The dispute involves more than 380 drivers employed across Gloucestershire and surrounding counties by Stagecoach West.

Unite the drivers, says strike action – which is due to take place could still be avoided if Stagecoach makes a “vastly improved” pay offer.

The union is seeking a pay rise in line with “real” inflation – which is currently running at nearly eight per cent. It claims Stagecoach were effectively offering a pay cut.

The union says drivers earn less than £11 an hour and it is the first time they have voted for strike action.

Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Unite has given Stagecoach West every opportunity to make a fair pay offer to avoid strike action but it has failed to do so. Our members at Stagecoach West have made it very clear they will accept nothing less than a significant pay rise and they have Unite’s full support in this fight. Stagecoach has to get real – it’s time to table a serious offer.”

Unite regional officer Shevaun Hunt added: “Our members are taking strike action as a last resort because Stagecoach has refused to listen.

“Industrial action will inevitably cause severe disruption to passengers throughout Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and especially during the Cheltenham Festival.

“Even now strike action could be avoided if Stagecoach West was prepared to return to the negotiating table and make an offer which meets the drivers’ expectations.”

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach West said: “Around 40 per cent of bus drivers in these areas are not members of Unite and have not voted for strike action.

“In recent negotiations, Unite has been demanding pay increases of up to 22 per cent, which would put the viability of many community bus routes at risk at the very time they are already under strain.

“We are committed to giving our people affordable pay rises, on top of the increases we have given over the past two years during the difficult period of the pandemic.

“We are expecting to hold further talks with Unite in the week ahead and would urge them to work constructively with us to reach a solution that is in the collective best interests of everyone.”