Greater Manchester 'Ring and Ride' strike over 'poverty wages' has been 'suspended'

A week-long strike of bus drivers, set to hit affect thousands of Greater Manchester’s elderly and disabled residents, has been called off.

Bus drivers on the ‘Ring and Ride’ service operated by Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Ltd (GMAT) have suspended their planned strike action next month, it was announced on Tuesday (June 25). The walk-out was scheduled for July 1 to July 7.

The trade union representing them said they made the decision ‘after the employer made a new and improved pay offer’. Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Our members, as a gesture of goodwill, have suspended their planned strikes while they are balloted over this new pay offer from GMAT.”

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Previously, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham accused GMAT ‘of paying poverty wages to drivers performing a vital service’. However, a GMAT spokesperson countered: “After the initial pay offer of 4.35 percent was rejected by Union members, GMAT officers met with Unite representatives on May 29 and following discussions an improved offer of 6 percent was put forward.

“This offer would provide drivers with an hourly rate of £12.20 which is above the real living wage.”

Ring and Ride services usually see qualifying passengers able to book an accessible minibus to take themselves and an accompanying adult from their home to a destination up to six miles away in Greater Manchester. They can travel further for hospital appointments and to the nearest town centre if needs be. A single fare starts at just £1.10 per trip, and is available from 8am until well after 10pm, seven days a week.

GMAT was contacted for comment.