Further disruption to Oldham Bee Network bus services as more strikes announced

Three additional strike dates at Manchester's Bee Network have been announced by Unite causing further disruption to services across Oldham.

Over 2,000 workers involved in the dispute are employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester and First Bus Rochdale - firms which are among those that make up the bus section of the integrated Bee Network. 

Workers have voted to take additional strike action from September 30 to October 2 on top of walk outs starting this week, after Stagecoach, Metroline and First failed to come back to negotiations with an improved pay offer deemed acceptable to Unite members. 

Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "These companies are very profitable but are putting greed over their hardworking members of staff. 

"Further strike action will be extremely disruptive however this is a dispute entirely of the bus companies' making and they could solve it easily by coming back with a better deal. Our members involved in the dispute have Unite's complete support." 

Unite members at the companies do not believe the current pay rises reflect the difficult and skilled jobs they do and fails to address years of low pay, while workers at First Bus Rochdale are the worst paid in the region. Yet Stagecoach, Metroline and First Bus Rochdale (part of First Group PLC), are all firms which have seen a rise in profits in recent years. 

The first series of strikes by Unite members at the firms will take place this Friday (19 September) until September 22. Given the number of drivers and companies involved, around two-thirds of Bee Network buses will not run at all, including some school services. 

Industrial action is also expected to impact several events in the city this weekend, including Manchester United v Chelsea at Old Trafford, comedian Peter Kay’s gig at the AO Arena and singer Tom Grennan’s concert at Coop Live. Strikes will also clash with students moving to the city ahead of freshers' week. 

Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden, said: "The strikes this week as well as the further action we have called will cause travel chaos in Greater Manchester. 

"However, it is entirely the fault of the employers involved, who have failed to address the issue of low pay and reward their staff accordingly. 

"Unite is not afraid to escalate to more strikes, which will only intensify going forward. It is time for the employers to make an offer that is acceptable to our members to resolve this disruption." 

The below Oldham services will not operate during the strike period: 

Bee Network Bus Services 

57 - Oldham - Rushcroft Circular 
59 - Oldham - Middleton - Manchester 
76 - Manchester - Failsworth - Limeside - Oldham 
76A - Manchester - Oldham 
76B - Manchester - Newton Heath - Woodhouses 
81 - Manchester - Moston - Oldham 
82 - Oldham - Sholver 
83 - Manchester - Hollinwood - Oldham - Sholver 
84 - Uppermill - Oldham - Manchester 
129 - Middleton - Hollin - Boarshaw circular 
180 - Oldham - Lees - Greenfield 
181 - Shaw - Chadderton - Moston - Manchester 
182 - Manchester - Chadderton - Shaw 
183 - Royal Oldham Hospital - Oldham - Limeside 
184 - Oldham - Diggle - Huddersfield 
350 - Ashton - Tameside Hospital - Uppermill - Oldham 
402 - Buckstones - Oldham 
403 - Oldham - Shaw - Buckstones - High Crompton Circular 
409 - Rochdale - Royton - Oldham - Ashton 
411 - Oldham - Derker Circular 
415 - Oldham - Middleton 
425 - Oldham - Alt - Holts circular 
426 - Oldham - Fitton Hill Circular 

School Services 

Crompton House 

• 402 - Oldham - Royton - Crompton House School 

• 435 - Crompton House - Rochdale 

• 436 - Rochdale - Crompton House School 

• 436 - Crompton House School - Milnrow 

• 442 - Norden - Rochdale 

North Chadderton High School 

• 402 - Shaw - Royton - North Chadderton School 

Royton & Crompton High School 

• 402 - High Crompton - Royton Middleton Rd (Royton & Crompton High School) 

Saddleworth High School 

• 184 - Saddleworth High School - Oldham 

All other school bus services will operate. 

Alternative Travel Options 

On Friday and Monday, September 22, tram services will operate as normal on the Rochdale via Oldham line. You can find the tram network map here webpage. 

A replacement bus service however, will operate between Rochdale Town Centre and Freehold on Saturday 20 and Sunday, September 21, due to planned improvement works taking place. 

To see where you can board a service, please visit our dedicated webpage. 

Tram services will operate between Freehold and East Didsbury.