First Bus drivers in Cornwall are to strike over two days coinciding with the Boardmasters Festival next week – although dedicated travel to the event will continue.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced two days of strike action on Friday, August 9 and Monday, August 12, as well as industrial action on the Saturday and Sunday in between (August 10 and 11) when they will withhold overtime, due to issues over pay.

During this time there will be some disruption to Cornwall by Kernow services.

The dates coincide with the major music festival Boardmasters, which takes place at Trebelsue Farm, Watergate Bay, Newquay from next Wednesday (August 7) until Sunday (August 11).

Up to 58,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival.

First has said that dedicated services to the Boardmasters Festival will run as planned, as it is provided by school/college and coach drivers employed by a separate partner company of First South West.

However, anyone intending to use normal public transport provided by First Bus for a transfer to one of the dedicated buses may run into difficulties.

It follows two days of strike action in July over the same issue. 

How the strike days will affect Cornwall

  • Truro Park & Ride (PR1 / PR1A) is expected to be the only registered bus services to operate a full timetable as normal. However, no services are guaranteed, and customers should check for the latest updates before travel as services may be subject to last minute change or cancellation.
  • First said it plans for any available staff to be deployed on a modified U1/U1A service between Falmouth and Newquay, focusing on the early morning and later services for hospital staff. However, no services are guaranteed, and customers should check for the latest updates before travel as services may be subject to last minute change or cancellation.
  • A Sunday service will operate on the 24 and 29.
  • The Atlantic Coaster will not operate.
  • All other services may operate pending on the driver availability, prioritising the T1/2 service if possible.
  • Separately, services to the Boardmasters Festival will run as planned (service is provided by school/college, and coach drivers employed by a separate partner company of First South West).

What First South West has said

Responding to the planned action, a First Bus South West Spokesperson said: “Today we have put a full and final offer forward and the RMT have asked for time to put it to their membership.

“We are pleased that this time the offer will go in front of their members, after they refused to do so last week, opting instead for industrial action.

“Our full and final substantial offer is an above inflation offer for all pay grades, which follows a significant pay increase of 17.6 per cent in December 2022.

“Our drivers are paid well above the national minimum wage and we are continually improving working conditions, facilities and enhanced benefits for our people.

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“We have provided a package of ways for the RMT to agree with their members which of the Terms and Conditions they can choose to trade to achieve a higher rate of pay.

“We provided a clear list of T&Cs and their associated value, and we believe by trading these, this would align with other operators in the area and therefore enable us to provide a higher rate of pay.

“Our businesses in both Cornwall and Somerset cannot sustain a ‘no strings’ deal without any trading of T&Cs and this would put jobs at immediate risk.

“Our door remains open and we hope the RMT will now work with us, to allow us to reach a deal which halts the industrial action which not only impacts our colleagues but causes unnecessary disruption to our passengers who rely on the bus.”

The company went on to add: “We are doing all we can to operate as many services as possible and would like to apologise for the disruption that customers may experience during the strikes.”