Go North East bus strike

That this House condemns Go North East for their failure to resolve ongoing industrial action; notes that when at full operation Go North East is part of a failed status quo of sub standard public transport provision in the North East region outside of major cities; believes Go North East undermines the local economy by paying drivers 20% less in the North East than in the North West; supports pay parity and equal pay for equal work and North East drivers should receive the same rates of pay as colleagues in the North West; and calls on the Government to recognise that privatised deregulated bus services is damaging our community, local economy and employment and urgent reform is required to create publicly owned, publicly run municipal bus provision that reinvests profits into better wages, terms and conditions, lower fares, more frequent and reliable service that meets the needs of the community and new green and environmentally sustainable infrastructure rather than continuing to pay excessive executive pay and shareholder dividends.