PASSENGERS on Go North West’s "rogue bus service" are being forced onto dangerously overcrowded buses, according to the Unite union.

More than 400 members of the UK’s largest union are currently on all out strikes after claims Go North West, which runs Bolton and Bury services to Manchester city centre, fired and re-hired staff and forced them on to inferior pay and conditions.

Staff, who currently earn on average £24,000 a year, will be £2,500 a year worse off say Unite members who began strike action across Greater Manchester on Sunday, February 28.

Unite has accused bosses of refusing to negotiate and operating what they have branded "a rogue bus service", using buses supplied by non-union companies and drivers from across the country.

The union is now alleging Go North West is ignoring a number of health and safety issues including a lack of driver safety screens and overcrowding on services.

A series of photos and videos of overcrowding on a service in Cheetham Hill show up to 44 people on just one bus despite regulations stating single decker buses are restricted to 18 passengers with no one allowed to stand.

Unite regional secretary, Ritchie James, said: “Before Go North West launched its ‘rogue bus service’, Unite warned that it risked the health of drivers, passengers and all Greater Manchester residents.

“Just days after the launch of the ‘rogue service’ those warnings have been proved to be all too true.

“The pictures of overcrowded buses are shocking, there is no social distancing and there is a huge risk of Covid being transmitted on these overcrowded buses.

“Rules preventing overcrowding are there for a reason and yet Go North West has chosen to ignore them.

“This is now a public health crisis and local politicians in Manchester must act immediately to ensure that the rogue bus service is suspended immediately and does not resume until measures are introduced to prevent the public health of everyone in Greater Manchester being placed at risk.

“The safest alternative and the most sensible solution, would be for Go North West to cancel its fire and re-hire policy, allowing fresh negotiations to take place. Bus drivers could then return to work and a safe service could resume.

“It was Go North West that walked away from negotiations in January and it is in their hands to return to the negotiations and end the danger now faced by its passengers and local residents.”

Go North West say 80% of workers voluntarily signed up to new agreements in return for £5,000 payments and refute the claim that drivers will be £2,400 a year worse off.

A spokesman for Go North West said: "We have guaranteed that all drivers will receive inflation-linked pay rises for the next two years, and there will be no redundancies

"It is not true that Go North West has left the negotiating table. Go North West has attended meetings at ACAS, the conciliation service, this week and our door is open to discussions with Unite."

The company has described the images of overcrowding as "one single instance where social distancing among passengers fell short".

The spokesman added: “Covid-19 compliance is an absolute priority for us and we have led the way in developing safety measures over the last year.

"We operate thousands of services per week and are aware of one single instance where social distancing among passengers fell short. We will be investigating fully and apologise to passengers on board.

“Passengers travelling by bus during the pandemic are making essential journeys – including trips to hospitals, schools, GP surgeries and essential retail. It is vital to ensure they get where they need to be, irrespective of Unite’s industrial action.

"All drivers and contractors operating our network are fully trained and experienced in Covid-19 regulations.

“We urge Unite to focus on a resolution based on discussion so that drivers can come back to work and normal services on Go North West can resume in time for the re-opening of schools next week.”