Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner and other MPs will join striking bus drivers this week as passengers are warned all buses from First’s Oldham depot will again be cancelled on days of action.
First drivers, who have already held six walk-outs over pay, plan to stage three more next week, on January 31, February 1 and Friday, February 4, which are expected to cause ‘severe disruption’ for passengers.
It means no services will run from the Oldham depot, although schools buses and Vantage routes are expected to operate.
On the Friday, 300 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, will be joined by Angela Rayner will join Oldham MP Jim McMahon, MP Louise Haigh, Stockport MP Nav Mishra, Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, Coin Vimal Choksi of Tameside Council and other leaders.
It comes amid reports that beleaguered Boris Johnson's £3bn 'Bus Back Better' pot has been halved, in part due to having been redirected to fund bus companies during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, First Manchester are preparing for industrial action on three days of every week throughout February.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The support by Angela Rayner and local politicians is warmly welcome. They will have the opportunity to speak directly to drivers who can explain the effect that low pay is having on them and their families and how the cost of living crisis is making their lives ever more difficult.
“Unite always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first and our drivers at First Manchester will receive the union’s unwavering support until this dispute is resolved.”
Despite plans to escalate strike action, Unite insists they remain committed to seeking a negotiated settlement to the dispute and fresh talks are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).
The main issue revolves around First’s alleged refusal to backdate a pay rise to August last year.
Although the company’s depot is located in Oldham it operates services across the Greater Manchester area.
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “Our members are taking industrial action as a last resort due to the failure of First Manchester to make its bus drivers a fair offer.
“Unite has made it clear that if the company comes forward with an appropriate offer we will swiftly meet with them in order to seek to resolve this dispute.”
Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: “The Company has offered a substantial increase to £13 per hour which meets the trade union’s request for parity with another large bus company in Greater Manchester and we were advised met their aspirations.
“We are eager to see this offer agreed so that colleagues can begin to benefit as quickly as possible from the new rate of pay and an additional lump sum. This will help them to manage the economic challenges everyone is facing at this time.
“This would bring an end to delays and protracted discussions about the 2021 settlement and enable us to begin negotiations for the 2022 pay review, the anniversary for which falls in August.
“Prolonging industrial action and the possibility of further dates in February is not the way forward to finding a resolution.
“I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers in advance for the further disruption and inconvenience any continuation of industrial action will cause.”
Customers with pre-bought tickets for the dates of industrial action will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Further information can be found on the First Manchester website.
