A UNION leader has accused a bus boss of "mistruths and fictional figures" the day before drivers and other staff walk out for a third time.

With Buses of Somerset workers taking industrial action tomorrow (Friday, November 4), RMT regional organiser Barry West said he is willing to attempt to "strike a deal and find a compromise".

Mr West has written to the company's managing director Simon Goff accusing him of failing to "arrange or organises any meetings" since the previous strikes last month.

Mr West said: "We have appealed to him (Mr Goff) and we have tried our very best to find a way forward that encompasses some flexibility and compromise on our behalf.

"Unfortunately, the company do not wish to work with us or compromise on anything leaving the passengers out members care about left high and dry."

Mr West added that Mr Goff has "mischaracterised the tone and spirit of our continued willingness to strike a deal and find a compromise".

He added: "The opinions of our members is well known and would be obvious to all who took notice of both the ballot and referendum outcomes that they are unhappy with the mistruths and fictional figures you claim to be offering."

He was reacting to comments from Mr Goff, who claimed Buses of Somerset had offered "a great deal to our staff, worth 17.4 per cent over the next two years" following pay rises throughout the pandemic. Mr Goff reckoned the majority of staff wanted to "accept the deal and move one".

RMT members are willing to "meet, discuss, explore and find a way to resolve the dispute", says Mr West.

He added: "We have been and we are flexible and have been creative in our thoughts and one would hope...the company might also like to join us on that journey.

"Our members are feeling aggrieved, they feel disappointed they feel let down by what they described as the inactivity by the company to get dates in the diary so that we collectively can sit and try making progress.

"We formally requested the company financial information recently so that we better understand the situation you described, and the all important context, about profit, loss, opportunities and risk, with this in mind I formally use this correspondence to seek that this is provided.

"I laid out a list of what we were seeking to your good self in that correspondence.

"We look forward to a date well ahead of the strike date next week if you (Mr Goff) are willing and can come with an open mind and a resolve that we can find a solution, and effectively avert all future dates for industrial action and the additional ones that may follow."

Mr West claims Buses of Somerset is only offering a 5 per cent pay rise this year, with inflation at over 10 per cent

He said: "Our members are suffering as food prices rose at the fastest pace since 1980 last month, and are at a 40-year high with an increase of 14.6 per cent in the year through September, led by the soaring cost of staples such as meat, bread, milk and eggs, the Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday.

"In terms of ability to pay, our members are outraged that the company is still able to find significant amounts of money to pay its shareholders whilst our members cannot afford to heat their homes, feed their families and struggle to pay the rising energy, fuel, utility bills and housing costs, mortgages and rents have risen significantly and are causing hardship to many."