Unite the Union has said strikes by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) workers in a dispute over pay will go ahead
20:18, 25 Nov 2025Updated 20:33, 25 Nov 2025
Unite the Union has said strikes by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) workers in a dispute over pay will go ahead(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
This is all you need to know about the Bee Network strikes this week:
Unite the Union has said strikes by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) workers in a dispute over pay will go ahead on Tuesday and throughout this week. The union said transport chiefs cancelled talks to resolve an industrial dispute planned for Monday, adding strike action would continue as a result. It comes after talks planned for Monday (November 24) to ‘find a fair resolution to the dispute’, the union added, were cancelled by TfGM.More than 200 Unite members in roles including ticketing, passenger assistance and information services for the bus network began industrial action in October. The workers involved will now walk out on strike from today through to Friday, as originally planned, with the union warning of potential disruption to the Bee Network as a result.The union said workers had rejected a below inflation 3.2 per cent pay rise and are ‘demanding an increase that reflects the rising cost of living and the increased workloads they have taken on since the creation of the Bee Network’. It warned that strikes would take place between November 25 and 28, warning strikes would ‘intensify if the dispute is not resolved’.Transport bosses have however stressed bus and trams services would run as normal throughout the week. TfGM said it was committed to paying above the Real Living Wage and ‘developing inclusive and competitive policies including flexible working and family friend policies’. Steve Warrener, Managing Director at TfGM, said the firm met with Unite last week for ‘constructive conversations’ and ‘hopes to resolve pay negations soon’. “We’re absolutely committed to TfGM being a rewarding place to work and build a career, with good pay, terms and conditions. We’ve made several proposals to the unions, accommodating their asks where we can. Our current offer particularly supports those on our lowest pay bands, ensuring that no-one earns less than £15.10 per hour, the equivalent to an annual salary of over £29,000.”TfGM also said that staff not on strike are ‘working to limit impact on passengers on strike days’ with the usual bus and trams still expected to run. It added the current offer supports staff members on lower pay bands and that no employee earns less than £15.10 an hour or over £29,000 per year.
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