Bosses at First said they are 'disappointed and dismayed' ahead of a bus driver strike in Manchester.
Drivers at the Oldham depot are set to go on strike from next Monday (July 3) after rejecting the latest pay offer put forward by the operator. Industrial action will take place over six days in July.
Unite members previously described the pay offer as 'inadequate'. Though in a statement issued this morning, First described the offer - of a 15.2 per cent increase between now and October - as 'generous' and said the increase would be 'well above inflation'.
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Strikes affecting First Manchester services in Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester and Ashton will take place on July 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 13. School services will continue to operate.
Ian Humphreys, managing director of First Manchester, said: "We are very disappointed and dismayed at the decision to commence strike action at our Oldham depot. The generous pay offer we made to the union of a 15.2 per cent per cent increase between now and October is well above inflation and would have helped our drivers to manage the cost of living as quickly as possible.
"Industrial action will be damaging to everyone and cause severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham previously said: “First Manchester’s profits continue to soar but the rates it pays its drivers are the worst in the region. The company’s inadequate pay offer is not enough to make up for sky high living costs or to plug the staff shortages that are making our members’ working lives a misery.
“Unite defends our members’ jobs, pay and conditions to the hilt and First Manchester’s drivers will receive all the support they need as they strike for a fair pay rise.”
Strikes will also not affect the Vantage V1 and V2 services that First operates from Bolton along the guided busway through Leigh and Atherton to Manchester. The 184 service between Oldham-Huddersfield will also run as normal as this is operated by First West Yorkshire from its Huddersfield depot.
Ian Humphreys added: "We will be unable to operate any other bus services from Monday and would like to apologise in advance and encourage customers to make alternative travel arrangements. We urge Unite to return to negotiations so we can finalise a settlement and prevent a prolonged dispute."
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