REGARDING the Arriva strikes.

As the main operator locally, this is going to cause absolute chaos, but of course I stand in solidarity with the workforce who are only fighting for a fair days pay for a hard days work.

At £11.08 per hour they are being paid £10k per year less than the UK median income for a full time worker, and a little over half the UK mean average income for a full time worker.

Saying they earn more than the “minimum wage” is all well and good, but the simple fact is that the minimum is woefully inadequate and often needs to be supported by welfare benefits.

This despite the skill and qualifications required to do the job and the often unsociable working hours, as well as the often challenging working conditions.

I’ve seen many social media posts arguing that the pay rise offer is generous, but given the horrific cost of living crisis and spiralling inflation it already amounts to a real terms pay cut.

A fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work is never too much to ask.

Marc, via Facebook