Mass disruption is expected on the Bee Network service in September as 2,000 members of Unite the Union walk out in an coordinated strike.
Manchester Metro strikes are planned to take place from September 19th to 22nd, which coincides with the University of Manchester’s Freshers’ Week, as well as other events in the city.
Workers striking are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester and First Bus Rochdale – firms which make up the Bee Network Bus part. Bus drivers will also take part in the planned action.
via Unsplash
At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based in the Oldham, Stockport and Middleton depots and 1,000 Metroline drivers based in Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton and Wythenshawe depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5 per cent, Unite the Union reports.
Members of the union believe the pay increase offer does not address the years of low pay, which has coincided with the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Matt Davies, from Stagecoach, said the company would continue to work towards a resolution and was preparing contingency plans if the drivers go ahead with “unnecessary strike action”.
As well as causing travel disruption across the city, the strikes will impact travel to and from events in Manchester including Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford and Tom Grennan and Lewis Capaldi at the Co-Op Arena.
Workers at First Bus Rochdale felt a pay offer of six per cent wasn’t enough to address the fact that “they have been the lowest paid in the region for years” on £15 an hour.
The bus company’s general manager Paul Townley said the offer they made was “well above inflation”.
Paul added: “We are disappointed in the decision of Unite to announce strike action.
“The management team have been working hard to find solutions to help our valued drivers during these tough economic times.”
He said industrial action was “not the way forward” and confirmed the company was ready and willing to continue discussions “so we can finalise a settlement”.
Metroline said its drivers would have been “the best paid outside London” if their offer had been accepted. It added how it would also continue working to find a solution.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “All of the firms involved in this dispute are highly profitable – but their workers are being denied a fair wage while their employers line their pockets.
“Our members have agreed this is unacceptable and have unequivocally voted to strike. They have Unite’s full backing throughout the whole of this dispute.”
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said about the Manchester Metro strike: “With so many drivers across the Bee Network walking out at once, this will be a highly disruptive strike that will bring parts of Greater Manchester to a standstill.
“We know residents will be disappointed to hear of potential action, but this is entirely the fault of the employers involved and our members feel they have no choice but to walk out to make their voices heard.
“Unite remains open to negotiations with the bus companies who need to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer.”
First Bus, Metroline and Stagecoach were contacted for comment.
Featured image via Unsplash
