BUS services in Oldham will be impacted next week by a strike by drivers over pay.

First Manchester has confirmed that industrial action at its Oldham depot on Monday and Tuesday means none of its services will be operating on both days.

This includes school services and the Yellow School Bus.

The Vantage V1 and V2 services based at a depot in Bolton for routes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester Royal Infirmary are unaffected.

The 300 plus drivers who are members of Unite, recorded a 99 per cent vote in favour of strike action. Several rounds of negotiations have been held but broke down.

READ MORE: Full list of schools impacted by bus strike

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members have been hailed as heroes for working throughout pandemic but that praise feels decidedly hollow when First Manchester is refusing to make our members a reasonable pay offer.

“Unite is the union which always prioritises the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and our bus drivers at First Manchester will be receiving the union’s unstinting support until this dispute is resolved.”

The union claims a key sticking point is the company’s refusal to backdate any pay increase.

First Manchester’s depot is in Oldham but it operates services throughout Greater Manchester. The strike will result in disruption to bus services throughout the entire city region.

If no resolution is reached in the dispute, further strikes are currently scheduled for January 18, 20, 24, 26.

There will be a Unite picket line in place at the First Manchester bus depot at Oldham's Walshaw Street during the strike.

Ian Humphreys, managing director of First Manchester, said: “I would like to apologise sincerely to all our customers for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause.

“We have been holding extensive talks with union representatives over the last few days and made every attempt to avoid industrial action, especially given the short notice this creates for our customers to make alternative travel arrangements.”

He added: “We are extremely disappointed that Unite the Union have chosen this course of action at a time when our efforts are focused on protecting jobs and maintaining services for the travelling public.”

Unite regional officer Dave Roberts insisted members were taking strike action as a 'last resort'.

He added: "Despite numerous meetings, First Manchester’s management has either failed to understand or ignored our members’ aspirations.

“The ball is now firmly in First Manchester’s court. Unite remains available for further negotiations in order to resolve this dispute but the company needs to be willing to bring forward an improved offer.”

First Manchester has said it is continuing discussions with Unite representatives to resolve the dispute and prevent any further industrial action.