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| Bus staff strike disrupts schools | Bus staff strike disrupts schools |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Thousands of schoolchildren in north east Scotland and the Highlands are being affected by the first day of a Stagecoach bus strike. | Thousands of schoolchildren in north east Scotland and the Highlands are being affected by the first day of a Stagecoach bus strike. |
| Parents have been warned to make alternative arrangements. | Parents have been warned to make alternative arrangements. |
| Aberdeenshire Council said about 4,000 pupils would be affected, and Highland Council said several of the region's schools would be hit by the disruption. | Aberdeenshire Council said about 4,000 pupils would be affected, and Highland Council said several of the region's schools would be hit by the disruption. |
| The strike over pay by Stagecoach bus staff starts on Tuesday and is also planned for 21 and 24 November. | The strike over pay by Stagecoach bus staff starts on Tuesday and is also planned for 21 and 24 November. |
| A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "Aberdeenshire Council's focus is on the education of our children therefore our educational establishments will be open as usual. | A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said: "Aberdeenshire Council's focus is on the education of our children therefore our educational establishments will be open as usual. |
| "Parents were warned in advance of the industrial action and we expect them to make every conceivable effort to get their children to school. | "Parents were warned in advance of the industrial action and we expect them to make every conceivable effort to get their children to school. |
| "We ask that parents car-share where possible to reduce congestion around schools." | "We ask that parents car-share where possible to reduce congestion around schools." |
| 'Comprehensive network' | 'Comprehensive network' |
| A Highland Council spokesman said: "It is anticipated that a number of school buses in the Inverness, Ross and Cromarty and Nairn areas will not be running due to industrial action being taken by drivers at Stagecoach Bluebird. | A Highland Council spokesman said: "It is anticipated that a number of school buses in the Inverness, Ross and Cromarty and Nairn areas will not be running due to industrial action being taken by drivers at Stagecoach Bluebird. |
| "The Highland Council is working with Stagecoach to minimise the disruption to services, including school bus services." | "The Highland Council is working with Stagecoach to minimise the disruption to services, including school bus services." |
| Aberdeen City Council and Moray Council said schools were not expected to be affected. | Aberdeen City Council and Moray Council said schools were not expected to be affected. |
| Stagecoach said 160 staff from elsewhere in the UK had arrived in the north of Scotland to help provide a "comprehensive network of services to customers". | |
| The firm urged Unite to call off the strike, and said that 150 of its engineering, administration and cleaning staff had already voted to accept a two-year deal offering a 9.5% pay increase - the same deal as the firm had offered to union members. | The firm urged Unite to call off the strike, and said that 150 of its engineering, administration and cleaning staff had already voted to accept a two-year deal offering a 9.5% pay increase - the same deal as the firm had offered to union members. |
| A Stagecoach statement said: "The company expects to operate close to normal daytime bus services across the region, although school bus contract services in Aberdeenshire will not operate." | A Stagecoach statement said: "The company expects to operate close to normal daytime bus services across the region, although school bus contract services in Aberdeenshire will not operate." |