NORTH Wales MS Carolyn Thomas has hit out at Arriva and signalled her support for bus drivers as they continue their strike across the region in a battle for improved pay.

The industrial action was called by the Unite the Union trade union after Arriva failed to offer drivers in Wales the same pay and conditions as those across the border in England.

Roughly 400 Arriva drivers working at depots including Amlwch, Bangor, Hawarden, Llandudno, Rhyl and Wrexham, are currently striking continuously from 6am on Sunday, November 14 until 1am on Sunday, December 19.

Carolyn Thomas visited the picket in Hawarden to show her support for the drivers in their dispute.

Speaking on the picket line, she said: “These drivers deserve to be paid a decent wage. They need to be paid the same amount as those over the border.

“They are driving past people driving the same buses who are being paid much more than they are.”

Talks between Arriva and Unite resumed on Tuesday in a new attempt to reach a deal, though no agreement has been reached yet.

Speaking in the Senedd chamber on Monday, she described the actions of Arriva as ‘totally unacceptable’, and continued by outlining how Arriva receive ‘substantial public funds’ and are behaving in ‘an unethical way’.

She finished by suggesting that reform of the system is required, calling for an end to the franchising system ‘which will drive down workers’ wages and conditions in the name of profit’.

The North Wales MS suggested that a publicly owned system where profits are reinvested in service delivery was needed.