Aberdeen retailers have reported a dramatic fall in customer numbers – of up to 50% – during recent bus strikes in the city.
Business organisation Aberdeen Inspired has been contacted by several outlets which have been badly affected by the series of strikes in March.
Footfall in the city centre dramatically reduced during periods of industrial action, which had a knock-on effect on traders, with employees also struggling to get to work.
At least one business reported a “devastating effect” on trading and is considering a reduction in staff hours if industrial action continues.
But, as First Bus management prepare for talks today at conciliation service Acas with Unite members, who have planned an indefinite strike from Friday onwards, there is little sign of a thaw between union and management.
Geoff Cooper, city centre manager for Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We have been approached by a number of our city centre levy payers who have voiced their concern on the damaging impact the bus strikes have had.
“They are experiencing reduced footfall and staff availability issues in an already difficult trading environment. Our footfall counters have shown that the decline in footfall is double what has been experienced nationally.
“We act as the voice of business in the city centre and it’s important we highlight these issues if the industrial action is expected to continue.”
Graeme McKenzie, director of Mostyn McKenzie on Union Street, added: “The strikes have had a devastating effect on our business and we experienced up to a 50% drop in footfall on strike days.
Many of our customers rely on public transport and are simply not visiting the city centre because of the uncertainty of getting home.
“Should the strike continue indefinitely, we shall have no option but to start reducing staff hours. It is imperative that both sides come together and that some compromise is made.”
Graham Gavin, the convenor of Unite at First Bus Aberdeen, said: “The bus drivers at First Aberdeen regret any inconvenience to the public and businesses in Aberdeen caused by the strike, but the public support for the strike has been remarkable.
“We believe that reflects the general understanding that First’s proposals amount to a ‘smash and grab’ raid on not just our wages and conditions but the right to be in a union.
“We are going to official arbitration tomorrow which we suggested weeks ago. It’s us that are doing the giving and First that’s doing the taking.”
David Phillips, operations director for First Aberdeen, apologised that customers “will have experienced some inconvenience and disruption during strike days”.
But he questioned how much was down to the strikes. “We shouldn’t forget that Aberdeen retail performance in general, however, has also been affected by the same economic factors that have seen the need for us to make these changes needed to ensure that we have a sustainable business for the future.
“Other factors such as the closure of Broad Street will also no doubt have had an impact as well, but we accept that the industrial action has had an impact on us all and that is why we have been active in trying to end the dispute.
“We feel that a ‘ballotable’ offer could have been acted upon last week that might have brought an end to the dispute. That is why we have now sought out a meeting via Acas in the hope that continued engagement in meaningful talks with our union colleagues will be successful in bringing an end to the Industrial action.”
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