Bus passengers in Greater Manchester warned of more strikes
Two thirds of routes in Greater Manchester are affected, including school buses
As strikes on Greater Manchester's Bee Network enter their fourth and final day, bus passengers are being warned of more disruption next week.
Workers at Stagecoach, First and Metroline have all walked out in a row over pay, with two thirds of services affected.
The union behind the strike - Unite - are warning similar disruption could be felt in another round of strikes planned for Tuesday 30th September.
It was a day of ‘chaos and confusion’ as commuters across Greater Manchester faced the beginning of four days of industrial action today (September 19).
There was major disruption on key routes across the city-region as several services stopped running, leading to missed medical appointments, people ending up ‘stranded’ at bus stops, and others having to fork out for taxis.
It is thought that around two thirds of all services in Greater Manchester are affected because of strike by some bus operator staff at Stagecoach, Metroline and First.
Bus staff joined picket lines due to the dispute between unions and bosses at operating companies over pay.
The strike started on Friday, September 19 and is set to last until Monday, September 22.
Greater Manchester’s Local Democracy Reporters were out speaking to affected passengers around the region.
Bus users outside North Manchester General Hospital in Crumpsall suffered from the reduction in services on the roads.
Melanie McConville, 46, had been with her son Jacob who was in A&E with broken ribs. But the strikes left the family struggling to get back home after being treated at the hospital.
She said: “There’s no buses to Moston and obviously Jacob can’t walk. It’s a week before pay day and I’ve now got to fork out for a taxi – it’s rubbish.”
Carl Beaumont, 42, is an inpatient at the hospital and was also caught out by the strikes when he tried to visit his mother in Blackley. I’ve been here over 40 minutes with no sign of a bus, my mum’s going away later this morning and it looks like I’ll miss seeing her.”
The strikes didn’t affect the whole region, with local services still running in Bolton and Wigan.
For those not lucky enough to have a bus on the road, tickets could be used on certain trains and Metrolink trams to try and ease the disruption.
Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road is one of the busiest transport corridors in Greater Manchester, a well-used track for commuters and students heading into the city centre.
But the roads were deserted with buses for much of the day with only a few solitary services running.
A statement on the Bee Network website said: "Further strikes are planned from Tuesday 30 September to Thursday 2 October.
"We will continue to do everything we can to minimise any disruption to your journey."
Operators said they are working to find a resolution to industrial action, while Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has urged unions to accept an offer.