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Quote:Customers advised to plan travel due to further industrial action

First Manchester is advising customers to plan for alternative travel arrangements next week in readiness for further industrial action at its Oldham depot on Tuesday 18 and Thursday 20 January 2022 which means no services will operate on both days.

This includes school services and the Yellow School Bus. Some routes will be covered by alternative services and details can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website http://www.tfgm.com.

The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at a depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected.

Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: “Despite further talks and the efforts we have already made to meet what we were told were agreed demands, union officials have informed us the strikes will go ahead.

“The Company has offered a substantial increase to £13 per hour, along with a lump sum payment. We have also offered to equalise the rate for school bus drivers with that for service bus drivers which would mean an even greater increase for this group of colleagues.

“There are no changes to our colleagues’ conditions and whilst reference has also been made to rota patterns, this is simply about the introduction of a previously agreed, shared plan to update recruiting and working practices to fulfil the Company’s commitments to diversity in the workplace.

“I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers in advance for the disruption and inconvenience this action will cause but want them to be aware of the situation so they can make plans for journeys they have to make on these days.”

Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Further information can be found on http://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-manche...h-20th-jan

Ian Humphreys added: “Industrial action has huge impact on the community and damages confidence in using the bus, so I urge union representatives to reconsider their action and continue talking with us to resolve this dispute.”

Ends

• 31st January, 1st and 4th February (Monday, Tuesday and Friday)
• 7th-9th February (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
• 15th, 17th and 18th February (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
• 21st, 23rd and 25h February (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
  

Quote:First Manchester bus drivers announce fresh strikes in pay dispute

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.

Strike action expanded

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.

Low pay issues

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.

Profitable company

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.

Fresh talks sought

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.

Quote:Customers advised to plan for more strikes next week

First Manchester is again giving customers advance notice to plan alternative travel arrangements as all its bus services will be cancelled due to continued industrial action at its Oldham depot on Monday 24 and Wednesday 26 January.

All dedicated school services are expected to run and details of routes can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website http://www.tfgm.com.

The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at a depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected and continue to operate normally.

Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said:

“The Company has offered a substantial increase to £13 per hour linked to the 2021 pay review. This is in response to the trade union’s request for parity with another large bus company in Greater Manchester and which we were advised met their aspirations.

“We have also included a lump sum payment as part of the new agreement and offered to equalise the rate for school bus drivers with that of local service drivers, which would mean an even greater increase for this group of colleagues. These offers have been recommended for acceptance by the trade union and we remain unclear as to the reasons why they have been rejected.

“There are no changes to our colleagues’ conditions and whilst reference has also been made to rota patterns, this is simply about the introduction of an agreement signed in March 2021 between the company and the union in which there was a shared plan to update recruiting and working practices to fulfil the Company’s commitments to diversity in the workplace.

“A third week of industrial action and the possibility of further dates in February is not the way forward to finding a resolution. We need to be building for the year ahead and remain ready to commence discussions on the 2022 pay review.

“I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers in advance for the further disruption and inconvenience next week’s industrial action will cause.”

Customers with pre-bought tickets for both dates will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Further information can be found on the First Manchester website https://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-manch...h-26th-jan

Ends

(21/01/2022 17:04)SF07 Wrote: [ -> ]First Manchester's Managing Director says that they've offered drivers £13 per hour, which they say is in parity with "another large bus company in Greater Manchester".


https://www.firstbus.co.uk/greater-manch...-next-week

Quote:Angela Rayner to join striking bus drivers as passengers face another week of cancelled services
Members of Unite will be joined by leaders in this week's walk-outs

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner and other MPs will join striking bus drivers this week as passengers are warned all buses from First’s Oldham depot will again be cancelled on days of action.

First drivers, who have already held six walk-outs over pay, plan to stage three more next week, on January 31, February 1 and Friday, February 4, which are expected to cause ‘severe disruption’ for passengers.

It means no services will run from the Oldham depot, although schools buses and Vantage routes are expected to operate.

On the Friday, 300 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, will be joined by Angela Rayner will join Oldham MP Jim McMahon, MP Louise Haigh, Stockport MP Nav Mishra, Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, Coin Vimal Choksi of Tameside Council and other leaders.

It comes amid reports that beleaguered Boris Johnson's £3bn 'Bus Back Better' pot has been halved, in part due to having been redirected to fund bus companies during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, First Manchester are preparing for industrial action on three days of every week throughout February.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The support by Angela Rayner and local politicians is warmly welcome. They will have the opportunity to speak directly to drivers who can explain the effect that low pay is having on them and their families and how the cost of living crisis is making their lives ever more difficult.

“Unite always puts the jobs, pay and conditions of its members first and our drivers at First Manchester will receive the union’s unwavering support until this dispute is resolved.”

Despite plans to escalate strike action, Unite insists they remain committed to seeking a negotiated settlement to the dispute and fresh talks are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).

The main issue revolves around First’s alleged refusal to backdate a pay rise to August last year.

Although the company’s depot is located in Oldham it operates services across the Greater Manchester area.

Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “Our members are taking industrial action as a last resort due to the failure of First Manchester to make its bus drivers a fair offer.

“Unite has made it clear that if the company comes forward with an appropriate offer we will swiftly meet with them in order to seek to resolve this dispute.”

Ian Humphreys, Managing Director of First Manchester, said: “The Company has offered a substantial increase to £13 per hour which meets the trade union’s request for parity with another large bus company in Greater Manchester and we were advised met their aspirations.

“We are eager to see this offer agreed so that colleagues can begin to benefit as quickly as possible from the new rate of pay and an additional lump sum. This will help them to manage the economic challenges everyone is facing at this time.

“This would bring an end to delays and protracted discussions about the 2021 settlement and enable us to begin negotiations for the 2022 pay review, the anniversary for which falls in August.

“Prolonging industrial action and the possibility of further dates in February is not the way forward to finding a resolution.

“I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers in advance for the further disruption and inconvenience any continuation of industrial action will cause.”

Customers with pre-bought tickets for the dates of industrial action will be given a refund or replacement tickets to use for future travel. Further information can be found on the First Manchester website.

Quote:We are pleased to advise customers that the industrial action planned for tomorrow (4th), Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th February has been called off as drivers consider a revised pay offer. All services including school routes will operate as normal.

Quote:First Manchester bus dispute ends as workers accept vastly improved pay offer

Strike action that has affected the entire First Manchester bus service has ended after drivers accepted a vastly improved pay offer.

Pay increase
The 300 plus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, have accepted an improved offer which will see pay rates increase by 8.9 per cent.

In addition to the increase in basic pay the drivers will see all other payments increase by the same percentage and they will also receive a one off payment of £750.

United workforce
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is an excellent result for our members at First Manchester. By standing together and remaining united they have secured a substantial pay rise.

“This deal puts down a strong marker for other bus companies that Unite will fight for decent pay increases that reflect the cost of living crisis. We are determined to defend members’ jobs, pay and conditions – it is Unite’s number one priority.”

Strike action taken
In total bus drivers took eight days of strike action since the beginning of the year in the dispute, which caused considerable disruption to bus passengers throughout Greater Manchester.

The drivers recorded a 70 per cent yes vote to accept the improved pay offer.

Negotiations successful
Unite regional officer Dave Roberts said: “From the beginning of this dispute Unite made it clear that strike action could be avoided if First Manchester was prepared to table an offer that met our members’ aspirations. Once the company understood this, a deal was agreed and the dispute ended.

“It is hoped that following this pay deal, relations with First Manchester can be strengthened and further disputes can be avoided in the future.”