Bus passengers in Greater Manchester face 'severe disruption' to their journeys as drivers prepare to strike for three days every week in February over a pay dispute.
The new proposed action by First Manchester drivers, who are headquartered in Oldham but operate across Greater Manchester, will start on Monday, January 31.
There will follow walk-outs on February 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 15, 17, 18, 21, 23 and 25.
READ MORE: Dozens of bus services cancelled across Greater Manchester next week - full list of routes affected
It means more than 300 drivers, who are members of Unite, will be striking for three days a week next month.
There have already been three days of strike action in the dispute and further strikes dates have already been announced for January 20, 24 and 26, leading to a raft of service cancellations.
The Manchester Evening News has asked First and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) for more information on which services will be impacted in February.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: "Bus drivers, including those at First Manchester, are no longer prepared to accept low rates of pay, for the difficult and stressful work they undertake.
“Unite now does exactly what it says on the trade union tin: it always fights to defend our members’ jobs, pay and conditions. The union will be providing its full support to our members at First Manchester until this dispute is resolved."
Currently, say Unite, the drivers' wage stands at £12.40 an hour.
But an ongoing sticking point is First Manchester's alleged refusal to backdate the last pay increase for 2021 to August 1.
Unite, which warned of 'severe disruption', says the firm, which recorded an operating profit of £224,3m in 2021, can afford to settle the dispute.
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “Srike action has already caused considerable disruption for bus passengers throughout Greater Manchester. This was directly a result of First Manchester’s refusal to make an offer which meets our members’ expectations.
“First Manchester can afford to make our members a fair pay offer but it has chosen not to. Further strikes can be avoided but it requires the company to put forward an improved offer and to return to the negotiating table.”
Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: “Despite the efforts we have already made to meet what we were told were agreed demands, union officials have announced their intention to hold further strikes.
“The Company has offered a substantial increase to £13 per hour, along with a lump sum payment. We have also offered to equalise the rate for school bus drivers with that for service bus drivers which would mean an even greater increase for this group of colleagues.
“There are no changes to our colleagues’ conditions and whilst reference has also been made to rota patterns, this is simply about the introduction of a previously agreed, shared plan to update recruiting and working practices to fulfil the Company’s commitments to diversity in the workplace.
“I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers in advance for the disruption and inconvenience any continued action would cause. This is a decision by Unite when it would be better to keep talking to understand how our substantial offer can be agreed.
"Industrial action has huge impact on the community and damages confidence in using the bus, so I urge union representatives to reconsider their action and continue talking with us to resolve this dispute.”
