Drivers plan to go on strike from Friday to Monday

Strikes due to take place by drivers for the company Stagecoach Devon on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday are expected to go ahead as planned.

The return to industrial action comes after a failure of talks between bosses at Stagecoach and representatives of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union on Tuesday.

The RMT wants a 57p rise in drivers' hourly rates to �6.50 and says it is unhappy with the latest offer from the company.

Wage conditions

Stagecoach had offered to increase wages for the �6.50 an hour that drivers had requested.

But the conditions of the rise stipulated that there would be no new rise until 2005 and the deal would start in August and not be backdated until May.

Phil Bialyk, from the RMT Union, said he is disappointed that the company would not put a better offer on the table.

He said: "The strikes are going ahead this weekend.

"We are carrying on and we are disappointed that this company will not recognise the contributions of its staff."

However, the managing director of Stagecoach, Chris Hilditch, has accused the union of being unwilling to compromise.

He said: "I've been doing all the compromising. I think the other side haven't compromised at all.

"They just have one attitude, which is: 'We want what we want - or else'."

The industrial action will affect Stagecoach services in Torbay, Exeter and east Devon.