The General Workers Union said this morning it was not in dispute with Arriva and had issued no ‘stop work’ directive.

It was reaction to action taken yesterday by around 40 bus drivers who abandoned their route and went to the union after they received their pay cheque.

In a statement, the union encouraged workers to follow guidelines given by union officials and to be careful of situations they could be placed in by people who had ulterior motives.

It said that, as it had always done, it would defend the workers once they appeared at the Disciplinary Board.

The union said that the agreement it signed with Arriva included benefits and wage increases and fewer hours, and not wage reductions as was being alleged.