With travel disruption expected across Greater Manchester due to bus strikes taking place across the region from today, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has issued a statement. Over 2,000 Unite members, including Bee Network bus drivers, began a four-day walkout today (September 19) due to a dispute over pay.
Full statement on the bus strikes from Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham
Issuing a statement this morning, Andy Burnham said: “We can assure people everything possible and reasonable has been done to try to avert these strikes. Proposals are on the table from the bus operators that would result in a significant lift in pay for some of our lowest-paid drivers and headline rates of pay for the rest that are amongst the best in the country.
“In addition, we have tabled a commitment to introduce a standard minimum rate of pay across all Bee Network operators from 2028. We appreciate the hard work of our drivers and support the objectives of the union.
“Whilst we are unable to deliver everything in one year, we believe what is on the table is enough to allow the strikes to be suspended for further talks and would ask union representatives to work with us on that.”
The workers on strike are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester and First Bus Rochdale – firms which are among those that make up the bus part of the Bee Network. At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based across the Oldham, Stockport and Middleton depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5%, and 1,000 Metroline Manchester members at Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton and Wythenshawe depots will walk out after turning down an “unsatisfactory below inflation pay offer” of 3.5%.
With the strikes falling on a Friday to Monday (19-22 September), this has meant school bus services have been impacted in some areas. Travel disruption is predicted for events taking place in Manchester, such as Manchester United vs Chelsea at Old Trafford, Tom Grennan and Lewis Capaldi gigs at Co-op Live, and Peter Kay performing at AO Arena.
There are also set to be more bus strikes in Greater Manchester in the coming weeks, as workers have voted to take additional strike action from September 30 to October 2 on top of walkouts starting this week.
Earlier this week, Unite regional officer, Colin Hayden, said: “The strikes this week as well as the further action we have called will cause travel chaos in Greater Manchester. However, it is entirely the fault of the employers involved, who have failed to address the issue of low pay and reward their staff accordingly.
“Unite is not afraid to escalate to more strikes, which will only intensify going forward. It is time for the employers to make an offer that is acceptable to our members to resolve this disruption.”