MAJOR music events in Cardiff are set to be affected by a three-week bus drivers’ strike over pay and conditions later this month, Unite warned today.

Travel arrangements for music events by artists including Tom Jones, Will Smith and Basement Jaxx at Cardiff Castle are among those likely to be affected.

More than 450 members working for publicly owned Cardiff City Transport Services LTD, more commonly known as Cardiff Bus, will walk out on August 17 after rejecting the company’s latest offer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cardiff Bus has long ignored low rates of pay and our hard-working members have rightfully had enough of the situation.

“These workers provide a vital front-line service and deserve to be compensated fairly. Any disruption is the fault of Cardiff Bus and our members there have Unite’s full backing every step of the way in this dispute.”

Cardiff Bus said that it is disappointed over the strike, adding: “We have so far worked in an open and transparent fashion which has culminated in what we believe is a substantial offer of 5.86 per cent to increase rates of pay.”