Staff belonging to the Unite union at First Manchester’s Bolton and Rusholme depots carried out the first of several planned strikes on Monday, October 2.
Three services from Rusholme – the 41, 42 and 53 – did not operate, while 23 services from Bolton were stopped entirely by the strike action. A further two services, the 162 and 163, only ran peak hour services which operate from the Queen’s Road depot, while the 135 and X39 and a number of specific times were services did not run.
The six school bus services which operate from the Bolton and Rusholme depots were unaffected.
The operator warned customers to plan-ahead and expect disruption to bus services on each Monday in October, when further strike action is currently planned and remained scheduled as this magazine went to press. Services from First Manchester’s Oldham and Queens Road depots are unaffected.
First said bus services operated from Rusholme and Bolton depots are not expected to run and it is advising all customers to visit its website, where a list of affected services has been provided.
Phil Medlicott, Managing Director at First Manchester, said: “We’re extremely disappointed that staff from two of our depots have decided to take strike action despite a good offer being put forward. I am truly sorry that our customers will be affected by this action.”
