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Hundreds of bus workers in Devon and Cornwall have voted for industrial action in a dispute over pay.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said members were angry at First Group's failure to come up with a "serious pay offer".

First employs about 500 people in Devon and Cornwall. Of the 300 who took part in the RMT ballot, 85% voted for strike action. The company said it would not comment on the ballot.

The RMT said 92% of members had voted for for action short of a strike and general secretary Bob Crow described it as a "massive mandate for action".

Mr Crow said First's pay offer was "self-funding" - meaning it would have no cost impact on the company and ring-fences their profits. He said the company had already removed the final salary section of the pension scheme and was now trying to "bind up what's on the table with a whole load of strings".

"Today's massive mandate for action by RMT members on First Devon and Cornwall buses reflects their anger at the failure to come up with a serious pay offer," Mr Crow said. "Bus services and bus workers in the South West are under a series of attacks as the companies attempt to ramp up and protect profits at the expense of their staff and the travelling public. Our ballot of groups of staff on First Devon and Cornwall buses draws a line in the sand as we fight to protect standards of living."

He said the union would not be rushing in to strike action, but would seek a negotiated settlement. "We don't want to take action for the sake of it; we actually want the company to get a negotiated agreement without strike action."

First bus strikes start in Devon and Cornwall

Hundreds of bus services have been cancelled as bus workers in Devon and Cornwall strike over pay.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said members were angry at what it described as First Group's failure to come up with a "serious pay offer".

First Group said less than 10% of its bus services were operating.

The company said it would prioritise contracted school, college and council services, but other services were "expected to be disrupted".

It is updating its website, Twitter and Facebook pages as more information becomes available.

Disrupted services include:
- Dartmouth park and ride services
- Park and rides buses from Millhouse, The George and Coypool in Plymouth are running every 30 minutes
- Some contracted college services are running in Cornwall, but no normal First buses are running in Penzance and Truro
- Only school buses are running in Tavistock
- No 93 service apart from school buses between Plymouth and Dartmouth

Another strike is planned for 9 November and staff will not work any unscheduled overtime or on rest days on 11 and 17 November.

First employs 675 people in Devon and Cornwall. Of the 300 who took part in the RMT ballot, 85% voted for strike action.

The union rejected an offer of a 7.1% pay rise over two years, of which 3.9% is guaranteed, while a further 3.2% is linked to efficiencies and "business improvements".

The firm said drivers in Devon and Cornwall earned about ^17,000 as a basic salary with the opportunity to earn "much more through overtime payments". It said the company had tabled a number of different offers and had been willing to negotiate with the union.

Chrissie Bainbridge from First Group said: "We are trading in difficult conditions. We have had millions of pounds in funding cuts from local government, cost increases and the recession. We want trade unions to work with us to make the business stronger in the future rather than undermining those efforts."

Phil Bialyk, regional organiser of the RMT, said: "Our members are on low pay, but they need to be rewarded for what they do. I am disappointed management have not been more pragmatic."

First Bus staff to strike in Cornwall and Devon

First Bus Group is warning customers in Cornwall and Devon to expect widespread disruption as a result of a strike to be held on Thursday.

Workers are staging a 24-hour walkout from 00:01 GMT after failing to reach an agreement with the company over a proposed pay deal.

A similar strike held in October affected more than 90% of routes.

The strike action had originally been planned for 8 November but was put on hold to allow talks to continue.

First said it had been informed by the RMT union that drivers and engineers would stage a 24-hour walkout on 15 November over the continuing pay dispute.

Phil Bialyk, from the RMT, said: "Members believe the company has been stalling to delay any rise. This rise has not been backdated, which has been the last straw for them. They're not prepared to accept the offer because the company, in their view, has not been straight with them."

Hundreds of services were cancelled during industrial action on 26 October.

First said it was disappointed and frustrated at the planned action.

Karen Baxter, from First, said: "We have to recognise times are tough and we have to work together to make it stronger, so we can all enjoy the benefits of that going forward."

The company employs 675 people in Devon and Cornwall.

Managers from the bus company and the RMT union had held meetings over a pay offer which guaranteed staff a 2% pay increase from 2 December, followed by a 2.3% increase from April 2013.