'An excellent win for our members': Leeds Passenger Transport strike ends after safety improvements
Strikes affecting transport services for people in Leeds with disabilities and special education needs have ended, Unite has confirmed.
Around 80 workers from Leeds City Council's Passenger Transport service went on strike in January, citing funding cuts that raised safety concerns for both staff and passengers.
The union said industrial action was driven by a lack of vital equipment such as restraints, inadequate risk assessments, and ongoing staffing shortages, which had led to gaps in services and unannounced cancellations.
Unite regional officer Chris Muscroft said: "Strike action was a last resort for our members, who care deeply about the passengers they look after, but they had to take a stand to improve the safety of the service.”
The strike was paused at the end of January to allow the council to implement improvements to the service, which have now been accepted. These include hiring more staff, introducing a new management structure, carrying out further risk assessments, and providing staff with mobile phones - measures expected to be completed by April.
Leeds City Council said it was “pleased” to have worked constructively to resolve the dispute with Unite to end the strike. “A number of further measures will be undertaken and changes implemented to address the concerns raised by Unite,” a spokesperson added.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members at Leeds Passenger Transport should be commended for taking action to improve their conditions and protect themselves and passengers. This is an excellent win for our members, which shows the power of a union.”
Muscroft added: "Unite is pleased with the outcome, which will ensure the service is vastly improved both for workers and passengers. However, the situation at Leeds council has demonstrated that national government needs to properly fund and support local authority services such as Leeds Passenger Transport."