Strike action set to start on Oldham First Bus services on July 3

First Manchester has announced that a Unite the Union ballot yesterday (June 29) has rejected its latest pay offer to Oldham drivers and industrial action will begin from Monday, July 3.

Further action will follow on July 4, 7, 10, 11 and 13, and more will be scheduled if the matter remains unresolved, said Unite.

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% 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.”

First Manchester has plans in place to run all the school services it manages from Monday, July 3. These are: 701, 705, 774, 775, 784, 788, 793, 794, 795, 812, 820, 821, 823, 825, 829, 830, 831, 835, 836, 837, 838, 841, 851, 861, 868, 871, 875, 879, 884, 887, 890, 891, 893, 894, S350, S84.

The industrial action does not affect the Vantage V1 and V2 services that First Manchester 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.”

Tickets purchased on a strike day will not be refunded and customers are advised to check if a service is operating.

Customers with pre-bought tickets for strike dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel.

Further information for customers will be published on the First Manchester website later today (June 30).

Unite says the action will involve 360 drivers who rejected the company’s pay offer because it contained ‘strings attached’.

The union said First Manchester’s current offer is split so the drivers would receive approximately half the pay rise in April and half in October. It said the company refused to engage in pay negotiations that were supposed to begin earlier in the year and then offered a split payment in order to deny the workers full back pay.

The offer has increased resentment among the workforce which was already angry at being paid nearly £1 an hour less than bus drivers at other companies operating in the region. The drivers have also been clear that the difference in pay has caused chronic staff shortages and overwork.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “First’s huge profits show that it does not need to engage in penny pinching by shaving the amount of back pay their drivers should receive. This strings attached deal has caused more anger amongst a workforce that currently receives the lowest rates in the region.

“Compounding the issue is the fact that the lower pay rates makes other companies more attractive places to work, resulting in staffing shortages and increased workloads. Unite’s members at First Manchester are right to take a stand and have their union’s total support.”

Unite regional officer, Colin Hayden, said: “First Manchester’s claim that Unite isn’t willing to continue talks is untrue. I have told the company we are willing to hold talks today, Saturday and Sunday to resolve this dispute. First Manchester know what they need to do to avoid strike action – put forward an offer our members can accept.”