Bus passengers across Greater Manchester are facing significant travel disruption next week as over 2,000 members of the Unite union, working under the Bee Network, are set to undertake a coordinated strike over pay. This industrial action marks the first wave of strikes to hit the Bee Network since buses were brought under public control by Andy Burnham.

The strikes are scheduled to run from Friday, September 19, to Monday, September 22. Passengers should also be aware that some late-night services on Thursday, September 18, and very early morning services on Tuesday, September 23, may also be affected. The industrial action will result in the cancellation of approximately two-thirds of Bee Network bus services, including some school routes, across all boroughs except for Bolton and Wigan, which will operate as normal.

The dispute centers on pay offers that Unite deems "unsatisfactory" in light of "years of low pay" and the "ongoing cost of living crisis," with inflation currently at 3.8%. Specifically, around 1,000 drivers at Stagecoach (Oldham, Stockport, Middleton depots) and another 1,000 workers at Metroline Manchester (Sharston, Hyde Road, Ashton, Wythenshawe depots) have rejected a 3.5 per cent pay offer. Additionally, 110 members at First Bus Rochdale turned down a six per cent pay offer. The bus operators have expressed their disappointment but remain "open" to discussions to prevent the strike.

The timing of these strikes is particularly impactful, as they coincide with a weekend of major events in the region. Manchester United is scheduled to host Chelsea at Old Trafford on September 20, while Peter Kay performs at the AO Arena and Tom Grennan plays at Co-op Live on September 19. Local leaders have voiced concerns about the impact on residents and visitors. Labour councillor Phil Burke, lead member for transport at Rochdale council, supports the drivers' right to strike but worries about constituents missing work, hoping for a swift resolution. Similarly, Labour councillor Anthony McCaul, Deputy Executive Member for Environment, Clean Air and Transport at Manchester council, emphasized the importance of bus drivers and hoped an agreement could be reached to mitigate the strikes' impacts on residents, businesses, and visitors.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has urged passengers to plan ahead, allow extra time for travel, and avoid peak times (7 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 6 pm) if possible, as local roads and other public transport will be busier. To help mitigate the disruption, TfGM has announced that customers with 7-day, 28-day, term-time, annual bus passes, or concessionary passes (including Our Pass) will be able to use their tickets and passes on all Metrolink trams on strike days. Trams and trains will run as normal, as will some buses in parts of Greater Manchester and the free bus in Manchester city centre.

TfGM Chief Network Officer Danny Vaughan reiterated that bus operators are responsible for staff pay and conditions, encouraging continued talks. He expressed regret for the anticipated disruption and assured that TfGM teams would be assisting passengers and providing information. More details are available on the Bee Network website or by contacting the Bee Network Contact Centre.

The full list of Bee Network bus services and school bus services confirmed to be affected by the strike action is as follows:

Bury

Bee Network buses: B3 - Bury – Ferngrove - Heywood – Norden, 461 - Bury - Norden - Rochdale, 467 - Bury - Bamford - Daniel Fold - Rochdale, 468 - Bury - Bamford - Greave - Rochdale, 469 - Bury - Tottington.

School buses: All school bus services in Bury will operate.

Manchester

Bee Network buses: 7 - Ashton-under-Lyne - Reddish - Heaton Chapel - Stockport, 11 - Altrincham - Gatley - Cheadle - Edgeley - Stockport, 15 - Flixton - Davyhulme - Urmston - Manchester, 17 - Manchester - Blackley - Middleton - Rochdale, 17/17A/17B - Rochdale - Stakehill - Middleton - Manchester, 18 - Langley - Middleton - Manchester - Manchester Royal Infirmary, 23 - Trafford Centre - Didsbury - Stockport, 25 - Stockport - Chorlton - Trafford Centre, 38 - Logistics Nth - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester, 42 - Manchester - Rusholme - East Didsbury - Stockport, 42A - Reddish - East Didsbury - Rusholme - Manchester, 42B - Woodford - Bramhall - East Didsbury - Manchester, 42C - Handforth - Cheadle - East Didsbury - Manchester, 43 - Manchester - Wythenshawe - Manchester Airport, 50 - East Didsbury - Manchester - Salford Quays, 51 - East Didsbury - Manchester - Salford Quays, 56 - Manchester - North Manchester General Hospital - Manchester Circular, 59 - Oldham - Middleton - Manchester, 76- Manchester - Failsworth - Limeside - Oldham, 76A - Manchester - Oldham, 76B - Manchester - Newton Heath - Woodhouses, 81 - Manchester - Moston - Oldham, 83 - Manchester - Hollinwood - Oldham - Sholver, 84 - Uppermill - Oldham - Manchester, 85 - Chorlton - Alexandra Park - Manchester, 85A - Manchester - Alexandra Park - Chorlton, 86 - Manchester - Brooks's Bar - Chorlton, 86N - Manchester - Chorlton, 101 - Manchester - Northenden - Baguley - Wythenshawe, 102 - Southern Cemetery - Manchester, 103 - Manchester Airport - Wythenshawe - Manchester, 111 - Southern Cemetery - Withington - Manchester, 112 - Middleton - Moston - Collyhurst - Manchester, 113 - Middleton - Moston - Collyhurst - Manchester, 114 - Manchester - Collyhurst - Moston - Alkrington, 115 - Middleton - Moston Circular, 116 - Middleton - Moston Circular, 117 - Manchester - Moston - Greengate, 118 - Manchester - Moston - North Manchester General Hospital, 119 - Higher Blackley - Moston - Manchester, 142 - Manchester - University - East Didsbury, 143 - West Didsbury - Rusholme - University - Manchester, 147 - Piccadilly Rail Station - West Didsbury, 150 - Trafford Centre - Chorlton - Gorton, 156 - Manchester - North Manchester General Hospital - Higher Blackley - Middleton, 171 - Newton Heath - Gorton - East Didsbury, 172 - Southern Cemetery - Gorton - Newton Heath, 181 - Shaw - Chadderton - Moston - Manchester, 182 - Manchester - Chadderton - Shaw, 191 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester, 192 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester (including 00.00 - 00.40am departures from Hazel Grove on Tuesday morning), 197 - Manchester - Longsight - Green End - Stockport, 201 - Hattersley - Hyde - Denton - Manchester, 202 - Gee Cross - Hyde - Haughton Green - Manchester, 203 - Stockport - Reddish - Belle Vue - Manchester, 205 - Manchester - West Gorton - Dane Bank, 216 - Manchester - Clayton - Droylsden - Ashton, 219 - Stalybridge - Ashton - Openshaw - Manchester, 219N - Stalybridge - Ashton - Openshaw - Manchester, 220 - Manchester - Dukinfield - Stalybridge, 221 - Dukinfield - Audenshaw - Openshaw - Manchester, 230 - Manchester - Littlemoss - Ashton, 231 - Manchester - Clayton - Droylsden - Ashton, 248 - Eccles - Trafford Park - Sale - Manchester Airport, 249 - Altrincham - Wythenshawe, 250 - Trafford Centre - Old Trafford - Manchester, 253 - Partington - Flixton - Urmston - Manchester, 255 - Manchester - Stretford - Urmston - Partington, 256 - Flixton - Stretford - Hulme - Manchester, 263 - Manchester - Hulme - Sale - Altrincham, 313 - Manchester Airport - Cheadle Hulme - Adswood - Stockport, 368 - Wythenshawe - Stockport, X50 - Trafford Centre - Manchester, X92 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester.

School buses: Barlow RC High School (727), Burnage Academy (728 AM only, 749, 751, 797), Co-opFailsworth (76), Levenshulme High School (171, 727), Loreto College (86 PM extras, 742, 743), Loreto High School (720), Trinity High School (724, 725), Whalley Range High School (150), Wright Robinson College (150, 172, 703, 704, 706).

Oldham

Bee Network buses: 57 - Oldham - Rushcroft Circular, 59 - Oldham - Middleton - Manchester, 76 - Manchester - Failsworth - Limeside - Oldham, 76A - Manchester - Oldham, 76B - Manchester - Newton Heath - Woodhouses, 81 - Manchester - Moston - Oldham, 82 - Oldham - Sholver, 83 - Manchester - Hollinwood - Oldham - Sholver, 84 - Uppermill - Oldham - Manchester, 129 - Middleton - Hollin - Boarshaw circular, 180 - Oldham - Lees - Greenfield, 181 - Shaw - Chadderton - Moston - Manchester, 182 - Manchester - Chadderton - Shaw, 183 - Royal Oldham Hospital - Oldham - Limeside, 184 - Oldham - Diggle - Huddersfield, 350 - Ashton - Tameside Hospital - Uppermill - Oldham, 402 - Buckstones - Oldham, 403 - Oldham - Shaw - Buckstones - High Crompton Circular, 409 - Rochdale - Royton - Oldham - Ashton, 411 - Oldham - Derker Circular, 415 - Oldham - Middleton, 425 - Oldham - Alt - Holts circular, 426 - Oldham - Fitton Hill Circular.

School buses: Crompton House (402, 435, 436, 442), North Chadderton High School (402), Royton & Crompton High School (402), Saddleworth High School (184).

Rochdale

Bee Network buses: 17/17A/17B - Rochdale - Middleton - Blackley - Manchester, 125 - Middleton - Birch - Heywood, 129 - Middleton - Hollins - Stanycliffe - Boarshaw circular, 156 - Middleton - NMGH - Manchester City Centre, 406 - Rochdale - Kirkholt Circular, 409 - Rochdale - Royton - Oldham - Ashton, 434 - Rochdale - Castleton - Middleton, 435/436 - Rochdale - Milnrow - Buckstones - High Crompton - Rochdale, 437 - Rochdale – Lane Head, 440 - Rochdale - Rochdale Infirmary - Syke, 442 - Rochdale - Bamford - Norden, 447 - Rochdale - Wallbank, 450 - Peppermint Bridge - Rochdale, 451 - Rochdale - Peppermint Bridge - Rochdale, 455 - Rochdale – Milnrow – Littleborough – Stansfield, 456 - Littleborough - Rochdale, 457 - Littleborough - Shore - Rochdale, 458 - Rochdale - Littleborough, 461 - Rochdale - Shawfield Circular, 467 - Rochdale - Daniel Fold - Bamford - Bury, 468 - Rochdale - Cutgate - Bamford - Jericho - Bury.

School buses: Holy Family College (433), Kingsway Park (434), Newhouse Academy (125), St Cuthberts RC High (447), Wardle Academy (456, 458).

Salford

Bee Network buses: 38 - Logistics Nth - Walkden - Swinton - Manchester, 50 - East Didsbury - Manchester - Salford Quays, 51 - East Didsbury - Manchester - Salford Quays, 248 - Eccles - Trafford Centre - Manchester Airport.

School buses: All school bus services in Salford will operate.

Stockport

Bee Network buses: 7 - Stockport - Reddish - Droylsden - Ashton, 11 - Altrincham - Wythenshawe - Cheadle - Stockport, 23 - Trafford Centre - Didsbury - Stockport, 25 - Stockport - Chorlton - Trafford Centre, 42 - Manchester - Rusholme - East Didsbury - Stockport, 42A - Reddish - East Didsbury - Rusholme - Manchester, 42B - Woodford - Bramhall - East Didsbury - Manchester, 42C - Handforth - Cheadle - East Didsbury - Manchester, X92 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester, 191 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester, 192 - Hazel Grove - Stockport - Manchester, 197 - Manchester - Longsight - Green End - Stockport, 203 - Stockport - Reddish - Belle Vue - Manchester, 312 - Stockport - Bridge Hall - Cheadle, 313 - Stockport - Manchester Airport - Cheadle Hulme Circular, 314 - Stockport - Offerton Estate - Stockport Circular, 322 - Haughton Green - Brinnington - Stockport, 325 - Stockport - Portwood - Brinnington Circular, 327 - Stockport - Portwood - Brinnington - Denton, 330 - Stockport - Hyde - Ashton, 358 - Stockport - Marple - New Mills - Hayfield, 360 - Stockport - Hazel Grove - Hayfield, 368 - Wythenshawe - Stockport, 370 - Altrincham - Sharston - Cheadle - Stockport, 371 - Altrincham - Sharston - Cheadle - Stockport, 374 - Stockport - Hazel Grove Circular, 378/378A/379 - Stockport - Cheadle Hulme - Heald Green Circular, 382 - Stockport - Bredbury - Romiley - Woodley, 383 - Stockport - Marple - Romiley Circular, 384 - Stockport - Bredbury - Romiley - Marple Circular.

School buses: Aquinas College (792), Bramhall High School (852, 855, 877), Cheadle PC Infants and Juniors (818), Cheadle Hulme High School (856, 863), Harrytown RC High School (819, 843 AM only, 845, 854), Hazel Grove High School (374, 827, 834, 858, 874), Kingsway School (758, 812), Laurus Cheadle Hulme (856, 863, 866), Marple Hall School (802, 808, 844), St James' RC High School (758, 811, 812, 815, 857).

Tameside

Bee Network buses: 7 - Stockport - Reddish - Droylsden - Ashton, 201 - Hattersley - Hyde - Denton - Manchester, 202 - Gee Cross - Hyde - Haughton Green - Manchester, 216 - Manchester - Clayton - Droylsden - Ashton, 219 - Stalybridge - Ashton - Openshaw - Manchester, 219N - Stalybridge - Ashton - Openshaw - Manchester, 220 - Manchester - Dukinfield - Stalybridge, 221 - Dukinfield - Audenshaw - Openshaw - Manchester, 230 - Ashton-under-Lyne - Droylsden - Piccadilly Gardens, 231 - Ashton-under-Lyne - Hurst - Droylsden - Piccadilly Gardens, 237 - Ashton - Stalybridge - Glossop, 330 - Ashton-under-Lyne - Dukinfield - Hyde - Woodley - Stockport, 336 - Ashton - Hazelhurst - Ashton Circular, 337 - Ashton - Hazelhurst - Ashton Circular, 346 - Hyde - Ashton, 347 - Ashton - Denton - Haughton Green Circular, 348 - Ashton - Stalybridge - Copley - Carrbrook, 350 - Ashton - Tameside Hospital - Uppermill - Oldham, 389 - Ashton - Stalybridge - Astley Circular.

School buses: Audenshaw School (721), Denton Community College (701, 847), Fairfield High School (700, 747), Longdendale High School (817), St Damian's RC College (864, 870), St Thomas More RC College (719).

Trafford

Bee Network buses: X50 - Trafford Centre - Manchester, 11 - Altrincham - Gatley - Cheadle - Edgeley - Stockport, 15 - Flixton - Davyhulme - Urmston - Manchester, 23 - Stockport - Stretford - Urmston - The Trafford Centre, 25 - Stockport - Heaton Moor - Stretford - The Trafford Centre, 150 - Trafford Centre - Chorlton - Gorton, 245 - Trafford Centre - Stretford - Altrincham, 247 - Trafford Centre - Flixton - Altrincham, 248 - Eccles - Trafford Centre - Manchester Airport, 249 - Altrincham - Wythenshawe, 250 - Trafford Centre - Old Trafford - Manchester, 253 - Partington - Flixton - Urmston - Manchester, 255 - Manchester - Stretford - Urmston - Partington, 256 - Flixton - Stretford - Hulme - Manchester, 263 - Manchester - Hulme - Sale - Altrincham, 281 - Altrincham - Timperley - Sale - Sale west, 282 - Altrincham - Oldfield Brow circular, 283 - Altrincham - Hale - Warburton Green circular, 284 - Altrincham - Well Green - Warburton Green circular, 285 - Altrincham - Timperley circular, 286 - Altrincham - Timperley circular, 370 - Altrincham - Sharston - Cheadle - Stockport, 371 - Altrincham - Sharston - Cheadle - Stockport.

School buses: Altrincham College (737, 738, 772, 773, 776), Altrincham Grammar School for Boys/Altrincham Grammar School for Girls/Loreto Grammar School (730, 731, 734, 752, 753, 756, 757), Blessed Thomas Holford College (789), Broadoak School (736), Flixton High School/Urmston Academy/Wellacre Academy (798, 799), Sale Grammar School (782, 783, 796), Sale High School (778), St Ambrose College (763, 764, 765, 766, 768 AM only), St Antony's RC High School (786).