GO North West say a "comprehensive service" will continue to operate across Greater Manchester despite strike action from drivers belonging to the Unite union.

Part of The Go-Ahead Group, Go North West runs a network of bus routes across Greater Manchester, Salford and the North West, with buses linking towns such as Warrington, Rochdale, Bolton, Middleton and Bury with Manchester city centre.

The Unite union, which represents more than 400 drivers at the firm, said the company planned to "fire and re-hire its workers on vastly inferior contracts".

Go North West maintain that under the proposed measures, drivers would get a £5,000 productivity lump-sum payment, plus two years' of inflation-linked pay rises and guarantees of no redundancies.

They say the changes are needed in order to secure the future of 600 jobs by stemming the company’s annual losses of £1.8 million.

The firm added that 80% of drivers voluntarily signed up to the package and that many of the working practices inherited at the depot when Go North West took over in 2019 had been in use since the 1980s

Unite said that 82% of its members at the depot voted in favour of striking.

Muhammad Warraich, a bus driver with Go North West, said: "Around 400 bus drivers from Go North West's Queens Road depot went on indefinite strike due to Go North West unfairly treating their key workers.

"Drivers and the Unite union rejected their scheme due to drivers being worse off by around £2,500 per year and their working conditions changing which is the main cause of concern along with drivers' wellbeing.

"The Unite union have given countless time to encourage the managing director for a solution through dialogue but Go North West has failed to respond

"Drivers have been left with no choice but to vote for industrial action."

Go North West said that while passengers may be be picked up by different colour buses during the strike action, overall disruption was set to be limited after the firm brought in other drivers from across the region.

Special fares of £1 for any journey will apply for passengers paying in cash, and season tickets and passes will be accepted as normal.

Go North West managing director Nigel Featham said: “People travelling on our buses during the pandemic are making essential journeys – including NHS workers, teachers and retail workers.

"We cannot let this dispute disrupt those journeys and make life even more difficult at what is already a very challenging time.

“My message to passengers is that you can rely on a bus arriving this week to take you to where you need to be. It may be a different colour but it will get you to work, to hospital, to school or

wherever else you need to go.

“We believe this strike action by Unite is unnecessary, ineffectual and will solve nothing. We urge the union to work with us to reach a solution based on discussion rather than strike action. I have

a great deal of sympathy for our drivers as I believe the vast majority would much rather be working than on strike.”

Mr Featham added that all temporary operators are experienced transport businesses which have carried out full COVID19 risk assessments and are fully compliant. The usual protocols, including social distancing and wearing of facemasks, apply.