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I guess this thread could be archived now?

Until November when pay talks resume, might be needing it again....

Remember though it only needs another 21% or so of drivers to vote for an offer to get the >50% for acceptance - I don't think a massive increase is required, probably just a token pay increase gesture on the previous offer coupled with some updated driving conditions that the drivers seem to be particularly focused on.

I think you'll find they're far more interested in both the length of the deal and changes to t's and c's than they are about the percentage increase on offer.

True but the point of the union is as a 'collective' - everyone seen as one whole, not individuals. Local Unite drivers from other companies undermining their fellow members at NX affects that mentality and ultimately severely weakens the union.

I cannot see Unite reps at other companies encouraging their drivers to cover routes affected by strikes. Strikes are meant to disrupt, the union will look incredibly weak if it's own members are minimising that disruption!

Striking in sympathy isn't legal anymore so they would be powerless until they had created a dispute of their own and balloted successfully. The ill feeling between NX drivers and management comes down to far more than pay. Other companies have better relationships with their Unite members and reps and reps don't tend to concern themselves too much with other peoples' disputes as to do so removes leverage for them when they need it. 

Would it be possible for a new registration to go in before the 21 days are up if the strike drags on and on?

Yes absolutely it would. 

Problem here is the Green Bus are effectively saying they'd cover the services on a tender basis. Tfwm are already having  to borrow from the BSIP pot (very naughty they are too) just to be able to tender existing services, they certainly won't have the money to issue tenders for strike cover. 

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that.

And whilst the registration would 99% be certain to be accepted, it's not going to happen as nobody has drivers. 

Scania 3500 has been withdrawn.

I'm starting to feel old, I drove that brand new on its first day in service.

It's not like the engineers are paid a pittance. I just checked the careers part of the National Express group website.

Bus drivers start on £11.80 per hour, rising to £14.80 depending on experience or time served.

Engineering technicians can earn between £16.50 - £22.50 per hour dependent on experience.

In my opinion, a 10.1% pay increase is not to be sniffed at, and the engineers have to appreciate that the drivers are being offered a 14% increase in order to stop them leaving the company, and to attract more drivers to fill the current shortfall and then retain them.

It must also be pointed out that at this point in time, although union members have voted in favour of strike action, it hasn't been formalised yet, so this is just very much at the 'threat' stage, and may not actually happen.

And you don't think engineers might look to leave the company? Vocational engineers are highly sought after at the moment, even more so than drivers. 

Julian Peddle wasn't simply a Director, he owned shares in Midland Classic as he still does with Select Bus & Centrebus Group (owners of D&G & Chaserider) and there have been close ties / links / overlap with his various shareholdings in the past in different ways. There also appears to be close ties between Julian Peddle & Arriva, which incidentally Midland Classic originated from. I'm not suggesting anything will change with the remainder of his shareholdings now Midland Classic has been sold, but neither do I believe that JP's bus operator shareholdings all worked completely independent of one another.
 
IIRC Select Bus for example have expanded a number of times in recent years by taking over D&G's Stafford area services & subsequently Chaserider's Stafford Town Service, Select Bus aren't owned by Centrebus Group (owners of D&G & Chaserider) but they do have the common link via JP being a shareholder in both, coincidence....

There was far less of an input at MC, merely a (minority) financial one and nothing more.

Centrebus Group including Centrebus, High Peak, D&G and Chaserider are a different kettle of fish. Whereas at Select the situation more resembles MC. 

So I repeat, absolutely no consequence for other businesses. Suggestions by other posters that infer otherwise are just unhelpful speculation at the least. 

Midland Classic was related to all of D&G, Chaserider, Select & Centrebus Group via Julian Peddle. He was a Director at Midland Classic up until resigning on today's takeover.

But he was simply a Director. That doesn't make the businesses related and it doesn't mean anything to these other businesses or their future. That was my point. 

Lots of people are directors of multiple businesses that mean nothing to each other. 

Wonder where this leaves the little 'mini ' group around there?

D & G/Chaserider & Select left, of Peddle interests.

It probably leaves them exactly where they were, in the Centrebus Group in the case of D&G and Chaserider and in the ownership of Mr Brown in the case of Select.

It makes no difference whatsoever seeing as MC was not related to any of those businesses.

Okay, now there is. It's now showing on the London Stock Exchange.

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/ROL/acquisition/1556989

You don't say!

Jesus, give them chance! There's nothing official yet anyway.

Keep up. Yes there is.

When are you moving this thread to Rotala?

Totally agree with you over the colour issue. The WMB livery should be a neutral colour, you're right they look too much like NX livery. Centro, Network WM, TfWM whoever have always favoured TWM, NX over other operators.

It's the Street Machine himself who favours them and you can thank him for the livery. Of course, as far as he's concerned it's a 'happy coincidence'. 

As I strongly suspect it could very well be our old friend from Blackheath, I certainly hope not.

He makes some very valid points