First Manchester announces ‘no strings attached’ pay offer of over £5,000 to Oldham bus drivers

First Bus Manchester has announced it is to offer an ‘inflation-busting’ pay rise to bus drivers in Oldham. The pay increase would see drivers earn £5,200 a year if accepted by the union. 

The offer is in response to strike action which Unite the Union members at First Bus Manchester have taken part in. The industrial action has taken place on various dates since the start of July.

 First Manchester has made an improved offer that means a pay increase to £15 per hour backdated to April and a further rise to £15.60 from October. This is an offer which the company has described as ‘no strings attached’. 

The offer will now likely be voted on by Unite members and, if accepted, drivers will receive backdated pay to April of some £1,000. It also means an annual pay increase of more than £5,200 for a driver with over one years’ service.

Rob Hughes, Operations Director of First Manchester, said: “We have made an improvement to our offer in an attempt to end this dispute and have asked Unite to ballot our drivers.

“This clearly answers the hourly pay rate request made by Unite and is well ahead of inflation. It will make our drivers some of the best-paid in Greater Manchester together with additional employment benefits.

“We have always approached pay talks with an open mind to try to resolve this dispute and move forward, allowing us to focus on the transition period to franchising and providing the people of Oldham with a great bus service. 

“Continued industrial action is damaging to everyone and causes yet more severe disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments.”