Highland and Orkney bus driver strikes averted, says union

Strike action by bus drivers in the Highlands and Orkney has been averted by a new pay deal, the Unite union has said.

The dispute involving about 200 union members and Stagecoach threatened to disrupt services in Aviemore, Inverness, Portree, Tain, Thurso and parts of Orkney.

Unite said the first year of the pay package would see drivers receive a basic pay rise of about 7.5% backdated to July.

It said drivers would also benefit from increases in overtime and hourly rates in the first year, while a second part of the deal will see overtime rates further rise from £16.50 to £17.50.