News archive

1 December 2023 16:28

Welcome back: free travel on Go North East buses for seven days

Go North East is pleased to announce that travel will be free on all its buses for seven days, beginning on Saturday December 2nd.
In a special promotion dubbed ‘This week’s on us’, customers will be able to hop on a bus and enjoy unlimited travel at no charge throughout the network which stretches across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and into the Tees Valley.
Go North East ha

9 November 2023 09:04

Independent poll shows plunging support for bus drivers striking over 10.3% pay offer

73% of the public believe the pay offer made to Unite drivers is fair Only 30% of people support the strike 63% sympathise most with the public impacted by the 12-week strike Only 8% of people say they sympathise most with the driver 50% Blame Unite, 32% Blame GNE, 18% Don’t Know
The travelling public overwhelmingly oppose a 12-week strike by Go North East bus drivers and hold Unite responsi

6 November 2023 19:12

Go North East bosses dismayed as Unite ‘talks walkout’ creates misery for passengers

Talks held today, brokered by the reconciliation service ACAS, aimed at resolving the Go North East driver pay dispute that has been ongoing for weeks ended in huge disappointment as Unite staged a walkout after four hours.
Unite demanded pay rises every six months in return for calling off their strike before refusing to continue talks. The stunt dashes hopes that unions were willing to reach

6 November 2023 08:47

Go North East maintains vital services as Unite lobby members to observe 12 week strike

Despite the challenges posed by a Unite strike involving drivers, Go North East is working closely with local authorities and transport bodies to ensure children can get to school and nurses can get to hospitals.
The region’s largest bus operator has confirmed that more than 80 buses will operate this week covering vital school, hospital and works services.
Services that will run include sch

27 October 2023 13:03

Drivers reject deal to make them the highest paid in the region and opt for a 12-week bus strike

Drivers at Go North East have turned down a landmark offer that would have made them the best-paid bus drivers in the region. Instead, Union members will start a 12-week strike from Saturday, 28 October.
The proposed deal would have increased hourly rates for drivers to £14.15. For drivers working a standard week annual pay would have risen by almost £2,700 yearly, meaning a 10.3% boost to pay.

25 October 2023 13:52

Go North East bus drivers set to become highest paid in the region as bosses move to avert strike action

Go North East, the region’s largest bus operator, has reached a breakthrough in talks with union representatives. This would propel its drivers to the top of the regional pay league and avert a looming 12-week strike scheduled to begin on Saturday, 28 October.
Under the landmark offer hourly rates for drivers will reach £14.15. This boosts pay for drivers working a standard week by almost £2,70

13 October 2023 14:51

LOCAL TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES AT GO NORTH EAST IN U-TURN FROM PAY AGREEMENT TO ALL-OUT STRIKE

Local Unite Representatives at Go North East have walked away from a settlement they themselves proposed to end the long-running pay dispute and will now take indefinite strike action.
On Tuesday, union representatives put forward a resolution that would see over 1,000 workers receive an inflation-busting 10% no strings attached pay rise, backdated to 1 July 2023, plus a guarantee of an ‘infla

29 September 2023 11:42

Unite call time on talks and press ahead with strike action

Go North East, the region’s largest bus operator, has confirmed that Unite the Union has rejected the company’s attempts to reach a compromise in the long running dispute over pay. Unite members will now strike.
During intensive negotiations involving ACAS, the company tabled an improved pay offer worth 9.5% to drivers and engineers. Administration staff earning up to £40,000 per year have be

18 September 2023 17:20

Go North East welcomes ACAS talks

Go North East, the region’s largest bus operator, has today welcomed the decision by Unite to engage in talks involving ACAS. Bosses at the company had been pressing the union to agree to negotiations in a bid to settle a pay deal.
The operator has agreed to increase the pay of its drivers by 9.11%; a rise which outpaces both the current CPI (6.4%) and RPI (9.0%) inflation rates.
For most d

14 September 2023 08:24

Go North East proposes ACAS talks in attempt to break pay deadlock

Go North East has proposed ACAS-brokered talks with trade union, Unite, in a bid to prevent industrial action.

18 August 2023 15:12

Hundreds of Go North East bus drivers set for inflation-busting £2,400 pay rise

Go North East, the region’s largest bus operator, has made its drivers an unprecedented offer to increase pay by £2,400 per year. If the proposal is agreed payments will be backdated to 1 July.

10 August 2023 15:43

Go North East takes over Arriva services in North Tyneside from Sunday 3 September

Go North East announces taking over Arriva's North Tyneside Services from 3 September.