Bus drivers set to go on strike in Manchester TOMORROW after talks break down

One of the UK's largest cities will be hit by a bus striketomorrow after talks between unions and bosses broke down.

Around 1,000 workers at Metroline Manchester will walk out in the dispute over pay, with the strike set to last from tomorrow until Thursday.

Unite the Unionhas said workers at four Greater Manchester depots – Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton and Wythenshawe – will walk out from tomorrow until Thursday, causing major disruption to services in the area. It is not yet clear which bus services will be affected.

The move comes amid a row over pay affecting workers at Stagecoach Manchester, First Bus Rochdale and Metroline Manchester, which are three of the companies that run Bee Network services under the franchising system launched two years ago.

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The dispute is around pay, with workers believing pay offers do not go far enough at the profitable firm to address years of low pay, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Which routes will be affected?

Transport for Greater Manchester has said:

• Metroline bus services that are not expected to run are primarily in the south of Greater Manchester, including parts of Manchester and the city centre, Tameside and Trafford.
• Stockport will see a mixed level of service, with some buses still running and others cancelled.
• All other bus services will continue to run as usual, including the Free Bus in the city centre, as well as the majority of buses in Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, and Wigan.

What have the unions said?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Metroline has consistently put profits before people throughout this dispute and workers have quite rightly had enough.

"Bus drivers do difficult and important jobs and deserve to be paid fairly. They will have Unite's full backing throughout the industrial action."

Metroline said it was 'disappointed' that strike action was going ahead, and said they had put forward an improved offer of an 8.8% increase over two years.

More than 2,000 workers had been due to strike but some actions starting tomorrow by workers at two other firms in the Bee Network have been partly suspended after employers came back to the table with a revised pay offer.

Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: "Following negotiations between Unite and these employers, revised pay offers have been put forward for some of the workers involved in this dispute. We have therefore suspended strike action to allow members at Stagecoach and First Bus Rochdale to vote on this.

"However workers at Metroline will continue with industrial action as planned as the employer has not made an offer deemed acceptable to our members."

Pending the outcome of ballots, further co-ordinated strike action by drivers at all three companies affected could still go ahead, causing cancellations of and delays to bus services in Greater Manchester. Dates affected could include October 10, 11, 13, 18, 23 and 24.

Latest statement from Metroline

A Metroline Spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that Unite has continued to pursue strike action rather than giving drivers the choice to ballot on our improved offer of an 8.8% increase over two years.

"Our improved offer, is in line with Stagecoach's offer, who have agreed to suspend their strike action whilst the offer is put to their drivers. Our improved offer exceeds inflation and would ensure that our drivers would continue to be amongst the best paid in the country.

"We value our drivers and the work they do and our team has worked tirelessly to present an offer that meets their expectations. We remain open and committed to finding resolution and want to avoid further industrial action which disrupts the everyday lives of our communities."