An update regarding the bus strikes, which were set to take place in Greater Manchester this week, has been released. Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has announced that most bus services in Greater Manchester will run as normal this week, as unions have called off strikes that had been planned to start on Tuesday (September 30).
Staff at three Bee Network bus operators – First, Metroline and Stagecoach – were due to take part in industrial action from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October. Unite the Union has confirmed that strikes will be suspended whilst it ballots members at First and Stagecoach on a revised offer.
However, according to the union, strike action by around 1,000 Unite members working at Metroline Manchester will go ahead from tomorrow. Workers at Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton and Wythenshawe depots will still walk out from September 30 to 2 October, causing major disruption to services in the area as some services will still not be running.
Pending the outcome of ballots, the further coordinated strike action announced on 10, 11, 13, 18, 23 and 24 October by drivers at all three companies affected could still go ahead, causing cancellations of and delays to bus services in Greater Manchester.
Credit: TfGMRob Jones, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester, said: “We are pleased that industrial action, that was planned to run from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October, has been called off following positive weekend talks between Stagecoach and Unite.
“Unite members will now be given the opportunity to vote on a revised pay proposal, which would provide an almost 9% pay increase by April 2026 and improve pay for our newest drivers.”
It follows intensive work across the weekend, with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Mayor of Greater Manchester doing ‘everything in their power’ to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution.
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.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said: “We’ve been working throughout the weekend, doing everything in our power to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution.
“This is positive progress and we’re pleased that union colleagues have now agreed to suspend strike action to ballot their members. We encourage staff at Metroline to do the same, in turn averting any strike action taking place this week.
“I have been clear that we support the aims of the unions – bus drivers deserve a better deal. But it has to be delivered in way that’s affordable and sustainable for the Bee Network. We’re hopeful that agreements can be reached between operators and unions to conclude the pay negotiations.”
Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, said: “We are pleased that planned industrial action has been suspended by First and Stagecoach staff, and that their services will run as normal. We’re hopeful that the same approach will be agreed with staff at Metroline tomorrow, averting any industrial taking place this week.
“Any updates about bus services will be available on the Bee Network website and social media channels. We’re still encouraging everyone to check the latest status of their service before they travel this week, leave plenty of time for their journey and to get in touch if they have any questions.”
Greater Manchester bus routes that will not be running even with bus strikes called off
Manchester
- 7 – Ashton-under-Lyne – Reddish – Heaton Chapel – Stockport
- 38 – Logistics Nth – Walkden – Swinton – Manchester
- 42 – Manchester – Rusholme – East Didsbury – Stockport
- 42A – Reddish – East Didsbury – Rusholme – Manchester
- 42B – Woodford – Bramhall – East Didsbury – Manchester
- 42C – Handforth – Cheadle – East Didsbury – Manchester
- 43 – Manchester – Wythenshawe – Manchester Airport
- 50 – East Didsbury – Manchester – Salford Quays
- 51 – East Didsbury – Manchester – Salford Quays
- 76- Manchester – Failsworth – Limeside – Oldham
- 76A – Manchester – Oldham
- 76B – Manchester – Newton Heath – Woodhouses
- 85 – Chorlton – Alexandra Park – Manchester
- 85A – Manchester – Alexandra Park – Chorlton
- 86 – Manchester – Brooks’s Bar – Chorlton
- 86N – Manchester – Chorlton
- 101 – Manchester – Northenden – Baguley – Wythenshawe
- 102 – Southern Cemetery – Manchester
- 103 – Manchester Airport – Wythenshawe – Manchester
- 111 – Southern Cemetery – Withington – Manchester
- 142 – Manchester – University – East Didsbury
- 143 – West Didsbury – Rusholme – University – Manchester
- 147 – Piccadilly Rail Station – West Didsbury
- 150 – Trafford Centre – Chorlton – Gorton
- 201 – Hattersley – Hyde – Denton – Manchester
- 202 – Gee Cross – Hyde – Haughton Green – Manchester
- 203 – Stockport – Reddish – Belle Vue – Manchester
- 205 – Manchester – West Gorton – Dane Bank
- 216 – Manchester – Clayton – Droylsden – Ashton
- 219 – Stalybridge – Ashton – Openshaw – Manchester
- 219N – Stalybridge – Ashton – Openshaw – Manchester
- 220 – Manchester – Dukinfield – Stalybridge
- 221 – Dukinfield – Audenshaw – Openshaw – Manchester
- 230 – Manchester – Littlemoss – Ashton
- 231 – Manchester – Clayton – Droylsden – Ashton
- 248 – Eccles – Trafford Park – Sale – Manchester Airport
- 249 – Altrincham – Wythenshawe
- 250 – Trafford Centre – Old Trafford – Manchester
- 253 – Partington – Flixton – Urmston – Manchester
- 255 – Manchester – Stretford – Urmston – Partington
- 256 – Flixton – Stretford – Hulme – Manchester
- 263 – Manchester – Hulme – Sale – Altrincham
- 313 – Manchester Airport – Cheadle Hulme – Adswood – Stockport
- 368 – Wythenshawe – Stockport
- X50 – Trafford Centre – Manchester
Oldham
- 76 – Manchester – Failsworth – Limeside – Oldham
- 76A – Manchester – Oldham
- 76B – Manchester – Newton Heath – Woodhouses
Stockport
- 7 – Stockport – Reddish – Droylsden – Ashton
- 42 – Manchester – Rusholme – East Didsbury – Stockport
- 42A – Reddish – East Didsbury – Rusholme – Manchester
- 42B – Woodford – Bramhall – East Didsbury – Manchester
- 42C – Handforth – Cheadle – East Didsbury – Manchester
- 203 – Stockport – Reddish – Belle Vue – Manchester
- 313 – Stockport – Manchester Airport – Cheadle Hulme Circular
- 370 – Altrincham – Sharston – Cheadle – Stockport
- 371 – Altrincham – Sharston – Cheadle – Stockport
- 374 – Stockport – Hazel Grove Circular
- 382 – Stockport – Bredbury – Romiley – Woodley
Tameside
- 7 – Stockport – Reddish – Droylsden – Ashton
- 201 – Hattersley – Hyde – Denton – Manchester
- 202 – Gee Cross – Hyde – Haughton Green – Manchester
- 216 – Manchester – Clayton – Droylsden – Ashton
- 219 – Stalybridge – Ashton – Openshaw – Manchester
- 219N – Stalybridge – Ashton – Openshaw – Manchester
- 220 – Manchester – Dukinfield – Stalybridge
- 221 – Dukinfield – Audenshaw – Openshaw – Manchester
- 230 – Ashton-under-Lyne – Droylsden – Piccadilly Gardens
- 231 – Ashton-under-Lyne – Hurst – Droylsden – Piccadilly Gardens
- 237 – Ashton – Stalybridge – Glossop
- 336 – Ashton – Hazelhurst – Ashton Circular
- 337 – Ashton – Hazelhurst – Ashton Circular
- 346 – Hyde – Ashton
- 347 – Ashton – Denton – Haughton Green Circular
- 389 – Ashton – Stalybridge – Astley Circular
Trafford
- X50 – Trafford Centre – Manchester
- 15 – Flixton – Davyhulme – Urmston – Manchester
- 25 – Stockport – Heaton Moor – Stretford – The Trafford Centre
- 150 – Trafford Centre – Chorlton – Gorton
- 245 – Trafford Centre – Stretford – Altrincham
- 247 – Trafford Centre – Flixton – Altrincham
- 248 – Eccles – Trafford Centre – Manchester Airport
- 249 – Altrincham – Wythenshawe
- 250 – Trafford Centre – Old Trafford – Manchester
- 253 – Partington – Flixton – Urmston – Manchester
- 255 – Manchester – Stretford – Urmston – Partington
- 256 – Flixton – Stretford – Hulme – Manchester
- 263 – Manchester – Hulme – Sale – Altrincham
- 281 – Altrincham – Timperley – Sale – Sale west
- 282 – Altrincham – Oldfield Brow circular
- 283 – Altrincham – Hale – Warburton Green circular
- 284 – Altrincham – Well Green – Warburton Green circular
- 285 – Altrincham – Timperley circular
- 286 – Altrincham – Timperley circular
- 370 – Altrincham – Sharston – Cheadle – Stockport
- 371 – Altrincham – Sharston – Cheadle – Stockport
Latest updates and service information will be available on the Bee Network’s social media channels and on a dedicated website page.
