The walkouts could start as soon as mid-September
The ballot will take place in two weeks’ time
Greater Manchester’s buses could be brought to a ‘standstill’, a union has warned as workers vote on whether to take strike action.
Thousands of drivers and staff in the city-region will be asked if they want to go on strike after their ‘poor pay offers’ were rejected by their trade union representatives. Workers from Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester and First Bus Rochdale are taking part in the ballot.
If they decide to go on strike, the ‘coordinated’ walkouts could take place across Greater Manchester as soon as mid-September. It comes eight months after all buses across the city-region were brought under public control as part of Andy Burnham’s Bee Network.
Under the mayor’s new London-style public transport network, bus companies now bid for contracts to run each route across the city-region. Several operators, who employ drivers and staff directly, currently have contracts to run services in Greater Manchester.
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Workers at three of those operators are now voting on whether to take industrial action with the ballots closing in two weeks’ time.
At Stagecoach, around 1,000 drivers based at the Oldham, Stockport and Middleton depots have rejected a pay offer of 3.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, a further 1,000 Metroline Manchester members at the Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton and Wythenshawe depots are also being balloted after turning down another below-inflation pay offer of 3.5 pc which Unite the Union has called ‘unsatisfactory’.
Workers at both operators say the offer does not address years of low pay, especially in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.
A consultative ballot of 110 members at First Bus Rochdale has already taken place with 95 pc voting to reject this year’s pay offer of 6 pc.
Unite says this does not go far enough because workers there have had years of being paid less than their counterparts at other companies.
Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham(Image: PA)
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.
“Stagecoach, Metroline and First can all fully afford to make a fair pay offer but they are choosing not to to boost their profits.”
The three ballots close on September 4. If Unite members at the three bus companies vote to take strike action, this could start as early mid-September with plans to coordinate the action across the Bee Network so that all walkouts happen at the same time.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Should these strikes go ahead they would bring Manchester’s bus network to a standstill.
“We appreciate that residents who rely on these bus services will be disappointed to hear of potential action, but it is entirely the fault of the employers. We urge them to come back to the table with improved offers to prevent what will be a highly disruptive strike.”
Responding to the news, Stagecoach Manchester Managing Director Rob Jones said: “We have met with the trade union representatives, who have rejected our initial offer of 3.5 pc.
“We remain committed to ensuring that drivers do receive an affordable pay increase and are keen to hold further talks and reach a resolution.
“We want to avoid industrial action, which is damaging to everyone and causes severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers.”
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Paul Townley, General Manager of First Bus in Rochdale, said: “The pay offer we have made of six per cent is well above current inflation and will help our colleagues manage the rising cost of living.
“The Rochdale team is ready and willing to continue discussions and we encourage Unite to join us so we can finalise a settlement.
“Industrial action is not the way forward and will be damaging to everyone, causing severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments.”
Metroline Manchester have been contacted for comment.
A Transport for Greater Manchester spokesperson said: “We’re aware some of our Bee Network operators are involved in ongoing pay negotiations and have been informed by them that union members are being balloted over industrial action.
“Bus operators are responsible for the pay and conditions of their staff, and the specifics of any talks is a matter for them and the relevant trade union. Our priority is to keep Greater Manchester moving and we are monitoring the situation closely.”