LOTHIAN Buses drivers are to be balloted over the possibility of strike action following claims of bullying and harassment.

Unite the union confirmed that it will formally ballot its membership at Lothian Buses for industrial action following overwhelming support in a consultative ballot.

In a three-week-long ballot, 94 per cent of Unite members who voted indicated support to take industrial action.

Lothian Buses, which has a number of services in East Lothian, has refuted “any allegations of bullying”.

The move – which has no impact on East Coast Buses, which is a subsidiary company of Lothian Buses – follows a breakdown in negotiations with Lothian Buses management at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

Lyn Turner, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “Unite met with Lothian Buses management at ACAS and we entered those talks in good faith to find a resolution to this dispute.

“However, there was a refusal at the outset to reinstate facility time, which is a red line for us.

“We have a number of outstanding issues in relation to procedural agreements, which includes on bullying and harassment.

“This is illustrated by the decision to remove facility time for the two senior Unite representatives.

“This decision in our view is trade union victimisation and we will now move to an employment tribunal.”

A spokeswoman for Lothian Buses said: “Despite the fact that the union and the business attended talks with ACAS last week, Unite thus far seem unwilling to engage in serious discussion.

“We absolutely refute any allegations of bullying.

“The branch chair and secretary are allocated four days per month to attend to their union duties – time which is paid for by Lothian and is way above what we are required to provide by law.

“We are at a loss to understand why the union hierarchy is intent on pursuing this damaging course of action that has the potential to impact on our customers.”