19 September 2025
Keeping Manchester on the move, day and night. Photo Workers.
Around 2,000 bus drivers will be taking strike action across Greater Manchester from 19 to 22 September. They are seeking improved pay offers from their employers. Their trade union, Unite, has coordinated the strike action to maximise impact.
The employers – Stagecoach, Metroline and First Bus Rochdale – are all profitable companies but have offered pay rises that their staff consider derisory, falling to address the long term issue of low pay.
The three companies have refused to improve their offers. An additional four says of strike action are planned running from 30 September to 2 October, should that prove necessary.
Low pay
Drivers for First Bus Rochdale are the lowest paid in the region. They were offered a 6 per cent pay rise in August. The 110 Unite members working there voted by 95 per cent to reject that offer. The parent company, First Group Plc, increased shareholder dividends by 45 per cent in 2024.
The other two employers offered 3.5 per cent to their staff, rejected by both groups of drivers. They will have noted the health of their respective employers. Last year Stagecoach’s total profits increased by over 50 per cent. And since its move to the city earlier this year, Metroline is preparing to bid for franchises in Liverpool and West Yorkshire.
Franchises
The three companies currently run bus franchises they tendered for and won from the Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. It was the first transport system outside of London to be regulated in nearly 40 years, other areas are set to follow.
Transport in the region is regulated by local government body, Transport for Greater Manchester. Two other bus companies with franchises are not facing strike action and so their bus routes will be unaffected. But there will be major disruption to services on strike days.