![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759097228_605_0_Bee-Network-Strikes.jpg\")
Passengers were set to face widespread disruption during the action(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\nAction at two of the three operators involved in disputes has been suspended, whilst their members are balloted on a new offer<\/p>\n
21:45, 28 Sep 2025Updated 21:47, 28 Sep 2025<\/p>\n
Passengers were set to face widespread disruption during the action(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n
The majority of planned strikes by bus workers in Greater Manchester this week have been suspended, Bee Network<\/a> bosses have announced.<\/p>\n More than 2,000 Unite the Union members employed by three operators – Stagecoach, Metroline and First Bus Rochdale<\/a> – were due to walk out on from Tuesday (September 30) to Thursday (October 2) in a row over pay.<\/p>\n The union held a four-day strike from last Friday (September 19) until Monday (September 22). And, on Friday, they announced six more days of action in October.<\/a><\/p>\n Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here<\/a><\/p>\n However, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), which runs the Bee Network, said tonight (Sunday, September 28) that the union had suspended the strikes at First and Stagecoach this week, while they balloted members on a new offer.<\/p>\n A decision by Metroline staff is due to be made tomorrow (Monday) but ‘it is hoped they will agree the same approach’, TfGM said.<\/p>\n The move means most bus services will run as normal this week, they said. However, they urged passengers to check before travelling until a decision was made by Metroline staff.<\/p>\n The new offer follows ‘intensive work across the weekend’, with TfGM saying themselves and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham<\/a> had done ‘everything in their power to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution.’<\/p>\n Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE<\/a><\/p>\n The three companies make up part of the Bee Network, under the franchising scheme introduced to Greater Manchester two years ago, but the companies are still responsible for their staff’s pay and conditions.<\/p>\n In the TfGM statement, Mr Burnham said: “We\u2019ve been working throughout the weekend, doing everything in our power to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is positive progress and we\u2019re pleased that union colleagues have now agreed to suspend strike action to ballot their members. We encourage staff at Metroline to do the same, in turn averting any strike action taking place this week.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been clear that we support the aims of the unions – bus drivers deserve a better deal. But it has to be delivered in way that\u2019s affordable and sustainable for the Bee Network.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re hopeful that agreements can be reached between operators and unions to conclude the pay negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n Danny Vaughan, TfGM\u2019s Chief Network Officer, said: “We are pleased that planned industrial action has been suspended by First and Stagecoach staff, and that their services will run as normal.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re hopeful that the same approach will be agreed with staff at Metroline tomorrow, averting any industrial taking place this week.<\/p>\n \u201cAny updates about bus services will be available on the Bee Network website and social media channels. We\u2019re still encouraging everyone to check the latest status of their service before they travel this week, leave plenty of time for their journey and to get in touch if they have any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Unite, Metroline, Stagecoach and First Bus Rochdale have been approached for comment<\/p>\n The union previously said around 1,000 drivers based across the Oldham<\/a>, Stockport<\/a> and Middleton<\/a> depots for Stagecoach had rejected a pay offer of 3.5 per cent.<\/p>\n Another 1,000 workers at Metroline Manchester – based at the Sharston, Hyde<\/a> Road, Ashton<\/a> and Wythenshawe<\/a> depots – had also turned down a 3.5 per cent pay offer.<\/p>\n Unite claimed the offers are ‘unsatisfactory’ following ‘years of low pay’ and the ‘ongoing cost of living crisis’. The most recent rate of UK inflation was 3.8 per cent.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759097228_175_0_Bee-Network-Strikes.jpg\")
A Unite picket line in Oldham on Friday, September 19(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759097228_668_0_Bee-Network-Strikes.jpg\")
Further industrial action was planned this week(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_Labour-Conf.jpg\")
Andu Burnham – pictured at an event at Labour Party conference in Liverpool – said it was ‘positive progress'(Image: Andy Stenning\/Daily Mirror)<\/p>\n