A union has announced further days of action on top of strikes due to start this FridayMore strikes have been announced(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)

Three new strike dates affecting Manchester’s Bee Network bus service were announced on Tuesday by a union.

Unite, the union representing workers in passenger transport, said its members have voted to take additional strike action from September 30 to October 2. It comes on top of indutrial action due to start this week.

As reported, bus passengers are set to face major disruption later this week with strikes affecting two-thirds of services in Greater Manchester. More than 2,000 members of Unite who work under the Bee Network are set to walk out in a co-ordinated strike over pay.

The strikes mean some services – including schools buses – will not run, with all boroughs except Bolton and Wigan set to be affected.

Staff at three Bee Network bus operators – First, Metroline and Stagecoach – announced they would walk out this Friday, September 19, until next Monday, September 22. Union bosses have said that the strikes will cause ‘serious disruption to bus services’.

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Annoucing the additional strike days today, Unite said Stagecoach, Metroline and First ‘failed to come back to negotiations with an improved pay offer deemed acceptable to Unite members’.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “These companies are very profitable but are putting greed over their hardworking members of staff.

The Bee Network(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

“”Further strike action will be extremely disruptive however this is a dispute entirely of the bus companies’ making and they could solve it easily by coming back with a better deal. Our members involved in the dispute have Unite’s complete support.”

Unite said its members at the companies ‘do not believe the current pay rises reflect the difficult and skilled jobs they do and fails to address years of low pay’.

Workers at First Bus Rochdale, the union added, were the worst paid in the region.

Unite said the industrial action was also expected to impact several major events on in the city this weekend.

They are said to include Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford, comedian Peter Kay’s gig at the AO Arena and singer Tom Grennan’s concert at Co-op Live. The strikes will also clash with students moving to the city ahead of freshers’ week, United added.

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.

Staff will walk out on Friday(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

“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.”

TfGM said several measures were being put in place to help people get around, including allowing customers to use their bus tickets and passes on alternative routes. Passengers with seven-day, 28-day, term-time or annual bus passes, as well as those with concessionary passes – including Our Pass – will be able to use their tickets and passes on all Metrolink trams on strike days.

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TfGM Chief Network Officer Danny Vaughan said: “Bus operators across the country are responsible for the pay and conditions of their staff. We are encouraging operators and their unions to continue talks, reach agreement and avoid disruption for passengers. Around two-thirds of buses will not run if bus operator staff take industrial action. We know this will impact people’s ability to get around and we’re very sorry for any disruption or inconvenience.

“Trams and trains will run as normal, as well as some buses in parts of Greater Manchester. People should check to see if their bus service is affected and, if so, plan an alternative journey ahead of time. It will be busier than normal and we’re urging people to leave plenty of time when travelling around the city-region.

“We are doing all we can to let people know about this and minimise the disruption and keep Greater Manchester moving. Our teams will be out helping passengers, bus tickets and passes will be accepted on trams, and all other public transport services will run as normal.”