Hundreds of bus services were due to be affected by the walkout
18:28, 14 Oct 2025Updated 18:32, 14 Oct 2025
A major update has been issued on bus strikes across Greater Manchester(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A major update has been issued on bus strikes across Greater Manchester amid a row over pay.
The walkout due to impact around 190 services last week was called off at the eleventh-hour on Thursday (October 9), drivers were balloted on a new pay offer from two Bee Network bus operators – Metroline and Stagecoach.
Services across the region had been expected to be impacted throughout last weekend, with scores of services affected in Tameside, Trafford and Stockport.
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Further strikes had been planned on October 18, 23 and 24 in the ongoing pay dispute, involving almost 2,000 members, causing travel disruption across the region.
Now in a new update on tonight (October 14), Unite has said further disruption has been avoided with drivers voting to accept a new pay offer.
Strikes this month by bus drivers have been called off after ‘a vastly improved pay deal’ was accepted, the union said.
Unite members voted to accept a pay offer of 12 per cent over two years, with the first pay rise of 5.9 per cent to be fully backdated to April 2025 and an additional 5.9 per cent this coming April on all rates of pay, including weekend and sick pay.
Strikes later this month have now been called off (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Bus drivers do difficult, essential jobs day in day out and deserve pay that reflects this, Unite is pleased the bus companies came to their senses with a greatly improved offer.
“This is an excellent, well-deserved win for our members at Stagecoach and Metroline who took on their employers in the fight for better pay and won. It proves the power of a union.”
Drivers have also been given enhancements to Christmas working including improved pay and time off in lieu, Unite said.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “This is a fantastic deal for drivers at Metroline and Stagecoach, which gives them a baked-in pay rise for two years. This win only came about as the members stuck together to fight for the pay deal they deserved.
“We are also pleased that TFGM have pledged to address other problems with pay and conditions and Unite looks forward to working with them to improve this for our members at the Bee Network.”
Last week, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, said: “Bus drivers are critical to the success of the Bee Network and we value what they do to keep Greater Manchester moving.
“It’s important that both our passengers and the people who work on the Bee Network benefit from local control of public transport. We’re confident that, with the changes we’ve already made and more we’ve got planned, we’re making Greater Manchester one of the best places in the country to be a bus driver.”