Planned bus strikes across Greater Manchester have been called off after Unite the Union agreed to ballot its members on a new pay offer, meaning most Bee Network services will now run as normal this weekend.
Industrial action by drivers at Stagecoach and Metroline, originally set for Friday, Saturday and Monday, have been suspended following last-minute talks between union representatives and bus operators.
The breakthrough comes after intense efforts by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Mayor Andy Burnham to broker a deal. Mr Burnham said he was “pleased” by Unite’s decision, adding that drivers were “critical to the success of the Bee Network”.
“We’ve been working hard to get to this point and are hopeful that an agreement between operators and the union can be reached quickly to avoid further action,” he said. “It’s important that both our passengers and the people who work on the Bee Network benefit from local control of public transport.”
TfGM Chief Network Officer Danny Vaughan said the 190 bus routes that had been expected to face disruption “should now run as normal”, though he warned there could still be limited issues due to the late timing of the announcement. “We’re still advising people to plan ahead and check the latest status of their service before they travel,” he said.
The Bee Network, which now oversees all local bus operations, has been credited with reversing a national trend of passenger decline by introducing improved services, better employment standards, and significant investment in depots and new vehicles.
A first-of-its-kind pension scheme for operator staff is also being developed, alongside new training initiatives such as the Licence for Greater Manchester to encourage career progression for drivers.
Passengers are advised to check the Bee Network website or app for the latest travel updates over the weekend.
Unite the Union have been approached for comment.
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