THE majority of Bury’s bus services could come to a halt if drivers cannot resolve a pay dispute by the end of the month, union bosses have warned.
Drivers at First have already voted in favour of four 24-hour strikes starting on Friday.
Now Unite, the union which represents the drivers, says the strike could be escalated to put all of the company’s buses in Bury, Bolton and Wigan out of action indefinitely.
Unite’s regional industrial organiser Bobby Morton said: “We hope that it will make the company come to their senses and offer us a wage increase, which they’re currently failing to do.
“Whoever made this decision, it’s either based on greed or mismanagement. It’s crazy.”
He added: “We will review the situation at the end of September, and if no progress has been made, we may well step up the action.
“It’s entirely in the company’s hands now. All they have to do is make me a pay offer.”
First staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of the strike in a two-week ballot. They are angry because bosses declined to give them a pay rise this year, despite the company making £134 million profits in 2008.
Preva Crossley, the chairman of the Greater Manchester Transport Campaign, said the strike would cause chaos for passengers.
He said: “It’ll affect a lot of people, and they’ll probably go back to their cars. I would support the drivers, however, if they’re not being paid enough money.”
The strike will include engineers and cleaners as well as drivers.
A First spokesman said: “We are hugely disappointed that our drivers have voted in favour of industrial action, creating a completely unnecessary situation where no one wins.
“All we have been asking is that our drivers earn the same this year as last year - no less - and that's a far better position than many people are facing in a difficult economic climate.
“We have to be realistic about what we can deliver and funding a pay award for drivers in this environment is simply not possible.”
He added: "We are considering how we can minimise the disruption to our services during these stoppages.
“In the meantime, however, we will continue to do all we can to resolve this situation ahead of any strike action taking place and the door remains open to discuss a way forward that will benefit our staff, our business and our customers."
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