Bus services across Mendip are set to be thrown into chaos next month as drivers at the Wells depot walk out in a pay row.

More than 1,000 drivers across six First West of England depots – including Wells – will strike after rejecting a two-year pay deal. The action kicks off just as schools return, with four days of walkouts from 4–8 September and further strikes from 16–19 September.

The Wells depot covers routes across Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet and surrounding villages, meaning communities across the area face cancellations and long delays.

Unite blasted First West of England for offering what it called a "miserly" deal – a £1 hourly rise until March 2026 and just 30p extra from April 2026. New starters would get 50p now and 10p next year. The union also criticised the company for refusing to pay backdated wages despite an April pay anniversary date.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "First Group PLC can clearly afford to pay our members more, but are choosing to put profits over people. This dispute is entirely of First Group's own making and any disruption could be easily avoided."

Unite regional officer Amy Roberts added: "While the situation will be frustrating for passengers, our members have no choice but to take industrial action to make their voices heard. First West of England could still stop this disruption by coming back to the table with a meaningful pay offer."

First West of England, part of First Group PLC, posted an operating profit of £204.3m in 2024 and hiked shareholder dividends by 45 per cent.

Doug Claringbold, the Managing Director for First Bus in the West of England, said: "We are disappointed for our customers that the above inflation pay offer we made to drivers has been rejected and that they will now face nine days of potentially significant disruption across Bristol, Bath, Wells and North Somerset.

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"Our pay offer was significantly above the rate of inflation and amounted to a pay increase of 8% over two years, including 6% this year, which was recommended by the trade union to our Bristol colleagues. However, that has been rejected and just over half of our drivers have voted to strike.

"We have been committed to improving the pay of drivers and continue to do so. Since 2021 a Bristol driver's basic earnings has increased from just over £24,000 to more than £31,000 - a 31% increase. This pay offer would immediately increase these basic earnings to over £33,000, with many drivers earning significantly more than this.

"Throughout this extensive negotiation process, we have listened to Unite member feedback and made a number of offers in order to try and settle this dispute, to ensure customers are not affected by strike action.

"Unfortunately, rather than work with us to find a resolution, Unite has decided to press ahead with strikes in September at a busy time when schools and colleges are returning. We have reminded them that it is our customers who are going to suffer.

"We are continuing to work with the trade union to avoid any strikes. In the meantime, we ask customers to check our website and app before travelling where we will post updates about potential disruption."