First’s bus drivers have continued to picket their employer, demanding a pay increase.
Much of Oldham’s bus network has been brought to a standstill, with strikes affecting most First services in the borough on Friday, July 7.
School services ran through the strike, as well as the 184, which is operated by First West Yorkshire rather than First Greater Manchester.
The picket had a barbecue atmosphere. A gazebo was erected and picketers were even kicking a football around, as well as blowing horns and waving Unite the Union flags.
Neil Fitzpatrick is a bus driver and the union branch secretary.
He said: “Since we put our pay claim in they had all of January, February and March and we never spoke at all. They only started the talks on April 1, which was our pay anniversary.
“The offers we’ve been offered do not meet the pay claim and the final offer got kicked out by the branch with 87 per cent rejections.”
Mr Fitzpatrick said Oldham’s bus drivers were the lowest paid in Greater Manchester.
He added: “Just like everyone knows now, the cost of living increases, everyone’s struggling – a lot of industries are being challenged, everyone’s in the same boat really.”
Oldhamers who rely on buses have been left unable to use them, with many of the borough’s services provided by First. Some others are provided by Stagecoach and other companies.
One question commonly raised is why UK workers don’t do like the Japanese did in 2018, and continue to work, just without taking any payment.
Neil said: “We do feel sorry for the general public, obviously, we want to be brought back round the table to sort out this dispute as soon as possible, just to stop all this.
“The laws are different over there, aren’t they? We’ve got to follow a certain process to do everything legally. In order to get a cost of living pay rise, unfortunately, this is what we have to do.”
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Strikes have already taken place on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday this week, with more planned on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday next week.
Even more days of action will be planned if the dispute is not resolved, according to the union.
Refunds are on offer for some ticketholders.
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Speaking last week, Ian Humphreys, the managing director of First Manchester, said: “We are disappointed and dismayed at the decision to commence strike action at our depot in Oldham.
“The pay offer we made to the union of a 15.2 per cent increase between now and October is well above inflation and it would have helped our drivers to manage the cost of living.
“The strike action will be damaging to everyone and it will cause disruption to the daily lives of our customers who rely on the bus to get to work, education and for appointments.”
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