FURTHER misery looms for passengers after First bus drivers confirmed they will go on strike for another four days.

First has already been hit by four 24-hour walk-outs, and drivers are now continuing their action throughout this, with strikes scheduled for October 5, 12, 19 and 26.

Drivers at the company, which runs a large proportion of Bury’s bus services, are angry because they have not been given a pay rise this year despite recording profits of £134 million last year.

They are represented by the union, Unite, and regional industrial organiser Bobby Morton said the strikes were likely to continue indefinitely.

Mr Morton said: “We’re in exactly the same position as we were before.

“We haven’t got a pay deal and we’ll continue taking action until we’ve got one.”

He added that he would be meeting with national union representatives later this week with a view to co-ordinating strikes across the country.

At present, the strike still only affects buses in Bury, Bolton and Wigan, excluding school buses.

First’s latest offer, rejected by the union, is a 0.5 per cent pay increase linked to productivity from October 2009, with a further 2.25 per cent increase from April 2010.

The company says it will also guarantee no compulsory redundancies for driving staff despite overstaffing at depots. A spokesman for First said: “The harsh reality of drivers losing pay each time they go out on strike has already seen a number of drivers indicate to management at First that they wish to see the dispute resolved.

“We would urge the union to call off the future planned industrial action, seek the views of its increasingly unhappy members, and then to accept the offer on the table for the benefit of bus staff and customers.”