Bus drivers employed by First Manchester, have announced fresh
strike action in the dispute over pay. The new dates for
industrial action are a direct consequence of the company’s
failure to make an improved offer to resolve the dispute.
The new days for strike action are Monday 31
January and then the following dates
in February
1, 4, 7,
8, 9, 15, 17, 18, 21,
23 and
25.. In effect the 300 plus drivers, who
are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, 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 20, 24 and 26 of January.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham 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."
The drivers have made it clear that they will no longer accept
low rates of pay for the highly skilled, demanding and
responsible role they undertake. The drivers’ basic wage is
£12.40 an hour. A major sticking point in the dispute is First
Manchester’s refusal to honour the anniversary date of 1 August
(when the pay increase for 2021 was due to come into effect) and
to backdate the pay increase from this date.
First Manchester is part of First Group which is the second
largest bus operator in the UK. The company is extremely wealthy,
it recorded an operating profit of £224.3 million in 2021 and it
has accessible cash reserves of £776 million.
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts
said: “Strike 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.”
The company’s depot is in Oldham but it operates services across
the Greater Manchester area. Since strike action began there has
been severe disruption to the company’s services.
There is an increasing shortage of bus drivers throughout the
UK. A recent survey of Unite members
revealed that 99 per cent of garages had shortages and that low
pay was identified as the primary reason for workers leaving the
profession.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
First Manchester bus drivers to begin strike action next week
