Bus drivers are threatening strike action over pay, according to union bosses.

Go North West drivers in Bolton, Denton, Heywood and Wigan have become angry over 'huge pay disparities' compared to other bus drivers in Greater Manchester. Nearly 600 Bee Network drivers are to be balloted for strike action over pay, says Unite the Union.

Go North West drivers operating in Bolton, Denton, Heywood and Wigan recently rejected a pay increase of 3.8 per cent.

They claim their pay is significantly below that of Bee Network drivers, employed by different operators, wanting higher than a 3.8 pc uplift in salary. Unite says Bee Network drivers employed by Metroline and Stagecoach earn £19.06 per hour compared to just £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 severe disruption to bus services in Bolton, Denton, Heywood and Wigan and across Greater Manchester.

Nigel Featham, managing director for Go North West said: "We remain committed to constructive discussions with trade union representatives, with the aim of reaching a resolution that avoids industrial action and avoids disruption for Bee Network customers."

Transport for Greater Manchester runs the Bee Network service across the city-region, but isn't responsible for the setting of pay and conditions for drivers under different operators. TfGM has encouraged negotiations between the union and the bus company to resolve the dispute and avoid disruption to customers.

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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 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."

By George Lythgoe

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