Bus services in Southampton, Fareham and Gosport re set to be affected as more than 140 drivers and supervisors are due to strike.

Passengers across Hampshire face further disruption as strikes by First Bus drivers will continue into February.

More than 140 drivers and supervisors based at the Hoeford depot who operate across Gosport, Fareham, Portsmouth and into Southampton will take to the picket line over pay.

Unite the Union said staff are now being paid barely above the minimum wage for a skilled and stressful job.

Strikes are due to take place every weekend in January and then on February 2-9, 12-14, 16-23 and 25-27.

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 have the full support of Unite in their dispute. “

The union added that First Group had revenues of nearly £5 billion in 2023 across the UK while First Hampshire & Dorset had a turnover of nearly £37 million.

Unite regional officer, Ian Woodland, said: “First Bus are acting like stroppy children and refusing to even meet with Unite for talks.

“They are trying to claim there is no money while everyone can read their accounts and see just how much their directors earn.”

In repose to the claims made by Unite, a First Bus spokesperson said: “It is extremely disappointing to see Unite have decided to cause further unnecessary disruption by announcing new strike dates in February.

“We are sorry for the disruption this action will cause our customers, who ultimately are the ones who will suffer.

“We want to resolve this dispute, our door remains open, and we have invited them back to negotiations.

“Unfortunately, they have ignored this offer to further explore different options and instead announced further action.

“Over the last two weekends of strike action, while regrettably not running as many services as usual due to strike action, we have still been able to maintain a core network and have been pleased to see a growing number of staff choosing to report for work.”