National Express West Midlands drivers have walked out of pay negotiations, leading to widespread travel disruption for thousands of bus patrons across the UK.
Though the strike was initially called off, Unite last Thursday announced that it would go ahead after rejecting a 14.3% pay increase, further confirmed on Saturday when a union member ballot showed 71% in support of the action.
Unite said the offer had "more strings attached than a grand piano".
National Express West Midlands drivers start at £11.80 an hour, increasing to £14 after three years, compared to drivers in London who receive £18 an hour after two years of service.
The strike involves about 3,100 drivers and affects up to 600,000 passengers.
Striking worker Steve Hogan told the BBC he felt "massively undervalued" by the company.
"We're doing our best for everybody and we're not appreciated…14% of a very low amount is not good", Hogan said, adding: "We're very low paid for what we do."
Managing director of the National Express West Midlands disagreed, stating: "We think that a 14.3% pay offer is one of the best pay offers anywhere in any job in any sector at the moment."
Bradford said the company was "working around the clock, talking to the union, talking to the drivers to try and get this resolved as quickly as possible".
‘We feel intimidated’
Another driver, Janice Arnold, said she felt unsafe at work and has had bricks thrown at her bus on some occasions.
"We feel intimidated, and I don't think the company are doing enough to make us feel like we can come to work and be treated with respect," she said.
Strike action is expected to continue indefinitely until an agreement between Unite and National Express is reached.
National Express West Midlands' white coach division is not affected.