First Manchester bus strikes suspended next week for drivers to be balloted on new pay offer

A campaign of industrial action at a Greater Manchester bus firm which has seen drivers walk out for several days of strikes has been suspended.

More than 300 drivers at First Manchester have been involved in the dispute over pay and working conditions.

However, there was a breakthrough in the row on Thursday afternoon (3 February) when trade union Unite announced the action was being suspended.

That means strike days on Friday 4 February and three days next week will now not go ahead while the drivers are balloted on a new offer made by the company.

What is happening with the strike action?

Unite is going to ballot more than 300 members at the company about a revised pay offer that has been received during the talks and negotiations with First Manchester to try to resolve the dispute.

That means strike action planned for Friday 4 February, Monday 7 February, Tuesday 8 February and Wednesday 9 February will now not take place.

If the drivers vote to accept the new pay offer, the entire campaign of industrial action will be over.

However, if it is rejected then strikes already scheduled for 15 February, 17 February, 18 February, 21 February and 25 February will go ahead as planned.

Strike action began last month in the dispute over low rates of pay and the industrial action has caused considerable disruption to bus passengers throughout Greater Manchester, with all passenger services run by First Manchester across the city-region having to be cancelled on each of the walk-out days.

First Manchester said a normal service will be running on each of the four days when strike action has been halted.

What has been said about the suspension of strike action?

Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “In the spirit of goodwill Unite has suspended its next four days of industrial action to allow its members to be balloted on the improved pay offer.

“From the beginning of this dispute, Unite has made clear that it believed it could be resolved through negotiations. Once First Manchester returned to the negotiating table with an improved offer progress was made.”

Ian Humphreys, managing director of First Manchester, said: “We’re pleased that our latest offer is to be voted on and hope this will quickly bring an end to this dispute and the significant hardship it is causing to our customers and our colleagues and their families.”