- 1/3 of Greater Manchester bus users affected by industrial action;
- Dukinfield, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Stockport area and Glossop worst affected by dispute;
- Limited services on key routes.
Confirmed in today’s [23 November 2007] Manchester Evening News and the Stagecoach Manchester website are details of the strike about to take place next week.
Following the rejection of the Perth based company’s pay offer of 4.5%, drivers will begin strike action on Tuesday 27 November 2007. There will be five further dates on the 29th November, then the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th December. This will be the first major bus strike in Greater Manchester since First Manchester’s in 2000 - 2001, affecting 80 million passengers who use Stagecoach in Manchester’s services.
Limited services will be in operation during the strike days on major routes such as the 216, 192 and the 201, between 0730 and 1800 hours. All other operators’ services and Metrolink trams will run normally.
Passengers affected by this should consider or expect:
- Allowing extra time for your journey and more changes of vehicle;
- Reserving seats on inter-city trains in anticipation of increased loadings;
- Walking short distances to the nearest train station;
- Increased demand for private hire and Hackney carriage taxi services.
One area, Dukinfield (already affected by road works on White Bridge) will see services to Ashton cut by 50%. With no peak hour direct service to Manchester, Dukinfield passengers must board the 41 or First Manchester’s 346 and change at Ashton. Or they can board First Manchester’s 389 service and board the train to Manchester from Stalybridge. Glossop passengers will be cut off from the bus network apart from services operated by Bowers’ Coaches and Speedwell Travel.
To see if your route is affected, details are available on the Stagecoach Manchester website.
S.V., 23 November 2007.
