Bee Network (UNITE) Strike Calendar
Strike Type: Bus
Latest Updates (5)
Pay strikes by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) workers will escalate this week, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today. More than 200 workers, who undertake a variety of roles including ticketing, passenger assistance and information services for the bus network, have rejected a 3.2 per cent pay offer. The offer is a real terms pay cut as the current rate of RPI inflation stands at 4.6 per cent. The dispute is also over issues around stand by, call out and four day working week policies. The low paid workers, who are demanding a rise that reflects the rising cost of living, previously took three days of strike action during the second half of October.
Almost 2,000 Unite members working for Stagecoach and Metroline, on the Bee Network, were due to walk out on 18, 23 and 24 October in a dispute over pay. Strikes have now been called off after Unite members have voted to accept a much-improved pay offer of 12 per cent over two years, The first pay rise of 5.9 per cent will be fully backdated to April 2025 and workers will receive another pay rise of 5.9 per cent this coming April on all rates of pay including weekend and sick pay.
Industrial action due to take place from today (10 October) by almost 2,000 bus drivers working for Manchester’s Bee Network has been called off. The drivers, members of Unite were due to walk out today, tomorrow (11 October) and Monday (13 October) in a dispute about pay. However, this has been called off after the companies they work for, Metroline and Stagecoach, came back with a new pay offer.
The dispute is regarding pay, with Unite members at the companies saying offers do not reflect the difficult jobs they do and also fail to address years of low pay. Meanwhile, Stagecoach, Metroline and First Bus Rochdale (part of First Group PLC), are all highly-profitable firms.
Unite is also campaigning for improvements to rest breaks, toilet facilities and exhausting shift patterns to reduce dangerous and endemic fatigue. Bus drivers are more likely to suffer mental and physical ill health than other professions due to the stressful nature of the job.
10 Strike Dates 0 Planned