A ROW over bus drivers’ pay is set to go to an independent service in an attempt to find a solution.

Unite, the union which represents bus drivers in Weymouth and Bridport, contacted the conciliation service Acas yesterday, saying it was prepared to go to arbitration.

Emergency timetables have been announced ahead of a seven-day continuous strike which runs from Monday, August 15 until Sunday, August 21.

Unite claims the dispute, which has now been running for two months, has cost First £250,000, and this could rise to £500,000 if it goes into a third month.

A spokesman added that settling the pay dispute would cost the company £48,000 per year.

A spokesman for First denied the claims that the dispute has cost the company this amount of money.

First Dorset managing director Marc Reddy has previously urged the union to go to arbitration.

Commenting earlier this week he said: "First Dorset is doing everything it can to minimise disruption for bus passengers, and around nine out of ten buses will run as normal."

First Bus has welcomed the union's move to arbitration - and has called on them to suspend the current industrial action as a sign of goodwill to passengers.

Mr Reddy said: “We have been calling on union representatives to meet with us for formal binding arbitration talks since 8 July.”  

“I’m pleased that union officials have finally showed a willingness to enter arbitration talks.  Gives this positive development, I’d urge Unite the Union to suspend strike action, give our customers and holiday makers some respite and enable talks to take place without undue pressure.”  

“In recent days we have seen a union calling off a strike for talks to take place and give transport passengers a break, and we call on Unite to do the same.”

Unite regional officer Bob Lanning said: “We have always been prepared to go to arbitration as long as any package hammered out under the auspices of Acas is put to the drivers, which is normal industrial relations’ practice.

 “It is the democratic process of voting on any proposed deal that seems to irk the management so much.

 “The ball is now in the company’s court and, if these talks go ahead, the process will take about two weeks to set-up. I think public opinion locally would expect the company to take up the arbitration offer.”