Bus drivers target ‘Mad Friday’ in festive strikes

ARRIVA NORTH WEST AND FIRST MANCHESTER STAFF PLAN SERIES OF 24-HOUR CHRISTMAS WALKOUTS

BUS drivers will hold another series of strikes in the run up to Christmas, including on ‘Mad Friday.’

Arriva North West and First Manchester workers are planning 24-hour action throughout December as two separate pay disputes drag on.

The strike action will coincide with the busy festive period and Mad Friday - traditionally the last Friday night before Christmas when thousands of party-goers descend on Manchester’s bars and clubs. Mad Friday this year falls on December 22.

Union members who are demanding pay rises insist that the action is necessary. Workers at the First Manchester depot on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme say they are currently paid less than their colleagues

at neighbouring depots. Around 70 drivers claim there is a £5,000 discrepancy between their pay and that of colleagues at the Queens Road depot, in Cheetham Hill.

First bosses have urged drivers in Rusholme to accept the pay deal and end the strikes.

Arriva workers plan to carry out strikes on December 12, 13 and 14 and on December 20, 21, 22 and 23.

There will be no planned Arriva bus services in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside on these days.

First workers are planning strike action on December 11, 13 and 15 and on December 20, 22 and 23.

The 41, 42 and 53 First Manchester bus services will be affected by the action. Services from First Manchester’s Oldham, Queens Road and Bolton depots are unaffected.

Unite regional officer Neil Clarke said: “We believe members of the public believe in fairness and equity.

“It can’t be fair and just for First Manchester workers doing the same job, for the same employer, in the same city, with the same pressures and demands to work for nearly £5,000 a year less that other colleagues. “With regards to the Arriva dispute - the employer is making huge amounts of profit. “They

have had the ability from day one to easily afford our members modest aspirations. Our members are not seeking an inflation-busting award, they are seeking only an inflation proofed award.” Planned action at Arriva’s Wythenshawe and Bolton depots was due to take place yesterday but was called off so further negotiations could happen. Workers have already carried out a series of strikes over several months as a result of ongoing pay disputes. Arriva North West managing director Phil Stone apologised for the disruption to services and said negotiations are ongoing.

He said: “It is now the responsibility of us all to ensure we approach new negotiations in an open manner to get this dispute resolved.

“We do not want to see further disruption to Arriva passengers, staff and local businesses in the run up to Christmas.”

Arriva customers with pre-paid Arriva tickets will be able to use them on the Merseyrail and Northern rail networks.

Tickets will also be accepted on Stagecoach Quality Network Routes. A statement on the First Manchester website states that services from the Rusholme depot will still run on strike days, but will be

subject to timetable changes. Managing director Phil Medlicott has urged drivers from the Rusholme depot to accept the pay offer and put an end to the industrial action. “We remain extremely disappointed that staff from one of our depots are continuing to strike, but I’d like to reassure customers that we will continue to operate services from our Rusholme depot,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to resolve the situation, but I have stressed to the Unite union that, following extensive negotiations since April, the situation has remained unchanged since our final offer at the start of October; an offer which was recommended by them. “We already have over 30 drivers who have returned to work at Rusholme and I’d urge all staff who are still involved with the strike to think about the impact this is having on their friends and families and to return to work.”

We do not want to see further disruption to Arriva passengers Phil Stone