Over 140 bus drivers and supervisors in Hampshire are set to strike in December after a local operator failed to make a reasonable pay offer.

Workers from the First Bus depot at Hoeford, which operates across Gosport, Fareham, Portsmouth and Southampton, will take action between December 19 and 27 to show their anger at the proposed pay rates.

Trade union Unite says that staff are being paid barely above the minimum wage and that First Bus offered workers only a four per cent pay increase during negotiations.

They also say that First has not reinstated many terms and conditions removed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unite say that bus services over the Christmas period will be close to zero if strikes are carried out.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “First Group is making millions of pounds of profit across the UK on public transport yet is treating its workers and the communities they come from in Hampshire with disdain.

“To pay barely above the minimum wage for a skilled and high-pressure job is utterly unacceptable and our members at First will have the full support of Unite in their dispute.”

First Group had revenues of nearly £5 billion in 2023 across the UK, while First Hampshire & Dorset – which operates the Hoeford depot - had a turnover of nearly £37 million.

Unite regional officer Ian Woodland added: “Our members have had their pay undermined for years and their terms and conditions eroded by uncaring management. Enough is enough.”

The trade union says that First will see its services ‘grind to a halt’ over Christmas if members head to the picket line as proposed.

Over 140 workers are Unite members and will therefore go on strike to fight this pay rise offer, which they believe is unacceptable.

“This is strike of First Group’s own making and it needs to urgently come back to the negotiating table with an improved offer our members can accept.”