Hundreds of Wigan bus drivers ballot for strikes over pay
Go North West drivers in the Greater Manchester area, including Wigan, are angry over apparent pay disparities with Bee Network colleagues.
Nearly 600 Bee Network drivers employed by Go North West in Bolton, Denton, Heywood and Wigan are to be balloted for strike action over pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today (May 13).
The workers are angry that their pay is significantly below that of Bee Network drivers employed by other operators and have rejected a 3.8 per cent pay offer.
According to Unite, Bee Network drivers employed by Metroline and Stagecoach earn £19.06 per hour compared to £15.51 per hour for Go North West drivers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Go North West can more than afford to close the huge pay disparity these workers are suffering despite doing exactly the same job as their Bee Network colleagues. Unite never stops fighting for our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and the Go North West drivers will receive their union’s full support.”
The drivers will be balloted until June 2, with potential industrial action this summer causing disruption to bus services across Greater Manchester and including Wigan.
Unite regional officer John O’Neill said: “Go North West will be totally responsible for any disruption caused to passengers because it is refusing to offer a fair deal. There is still time for industrial action to be avoided, but that will require the company tabling a deal that is acceptable to its drivers.”
Alison Chew, TfGM’s Bus Network Director, said: “We're aware that one of our Bee Network operators, Go North West, is involved in ongoing pay negotiations and have been informed by them that union members are due to be / being balloted over industrial action.
“Since bringing buses under local control, we have been working hard to ensure Greater Manchester remains one of the best places in the country to be a bus driver, with rewarding pay and conditions.
“We are asking the operator and union representatives to continue talks with a view to resolving this dispute. Our priority is to keep Greater Manchester moving, and the last thing we want is for our customers to be impacted by industrial action.”
Go North West has been asked for a comment.