First bosses 'dismayed' as Manchester bus drivers set to go on strike

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Bosses at First said they are 'disappointed and dismayed' ahead of a bus driver strike in Manchester. Drivers at the Oldham depot are set to go on strike from next Monday (July 3) after rejecting the latest pay offer put forward by the operator.

Industrial action will take place over six days in July. Unite members previously described the pay offer as 'inadequate'. Though in a statement issued this morning, First described the offer - of a 15.2 per cent increase between now and October - as 'generous' and said the increase would be 'well above inflation'. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Strikes affecting First Manchester services in Rochdale, Oldham, Manchester and Ashton will take place on July 3, 4, 7, 10, 11 and 13.

School services will continue to operate. 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 per cent per cent 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." Unite general secretary Sharon Graham previously said:“First Manchester’s profits continue to soar but the rates it pays its drivers are the worst in the region.