BRIGHTON bus drivers are to be balloted on whether to go on strike.

The Unite union wrote to members at Brighton and Hove Bus Company saying: "Members approach us every day saying they are fed up to the back teeth of being pestered to do overtime, and made to feel as though they are letting the team down when they refuse.

“Yet because of management's own short sightedness and mismanagement, members can’t take lieu days they have rightfully accrued because of staff shortages.

“The company is quite happy to harass and harangue drivers to do overtime, whether they are at work or even at home, and leaving messages on their phones and texting while driving. Calling sick members to ask when they will be returning to work rather than showing genuine concern for sick employees.”

Martin Harris, the managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said: “We are and have been discussing a number of internal allegations with the Unite trade union representatives."