BUS PASSENGERS in Tameside face disruption after local workers voted to proceed with strike action.
Staff at Metroline Manchester’s depot on Clarence Street, close to the border between Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge, will be among about 1,000 staff to walk out from Tuesday, September 30 until Thursday, October 2.
As it is part of the Bee Network, Manchester’s integrated transport system, it promises to bring disruption to services – about 130 in tioal, including some school buses.
This strike goes ahead after some action at two other firms was partly suspended after the employers came back to the table with a revised pay offer.
In this case, talks broke down around pay, with workers believing offers do not go far enough at the profitable firm to address years of low wages.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, said: “Metroline has consistently put profits before people throughout this dispute and workers have quite rightly had enough.
“Bus drivers do difficult and important jobs and deserve to be paid fairly. They will have Unite’s full backing throughout the industrial action.”
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Workers at Metroline will continue with industrial action as planned as the employer has not made an offer deemed acceptable to our members.”
Pending the outcome of ballots, further co-ordinated strike action announced on 10, 11, 13, 18, 23 and 24 October could still go ahead, causing cancellations of and delays to bus services in Greater Manchester.