Oldham bus strikes, by members of Unite employed at First Manchester have been suspended next week to allow workers to vote on a new deal.
Strikes were due to disrupt bus services on September 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Strike action plans by Greater Manchester Accessible Transport workers have also been put on hold to allow Unite members to be balloted on a better offer, according to union Unite.
The ballot is set for Wednesday, September 6.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Following improved offers from First Manchester and GMAT, Unite has, as an act of good faith, suspended strikes while our members are balloted on the new deals.”
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Fresh strike action will be scheduled if the workers reject the new deals, according to the union.
First Manchester said it was ‘delighted’ at the news.
It comes after weeks of strikes which saw drivers down tools for 22 days across July and August, with drivers offered £75 incentives to work during strike days.
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First Manchester offered a pay increase to drivers drivers at the end of last month, with an offer of £15 per hour backdated to April, and a further rise of £15.60 from October.
This means drivers would get an 11 per cent increase backdated, followed by a 15.6 per cent increase from October.
However, the deal still comes in below what the drivers are asking for – £16 per hour.
Drivers currently earn £13.50 an hour, with some saying they ‘can't afford to do a flat week’ on the picket line.
The strikes have left much of Oldham without a bus service for days, with First being the main operator in the borough.
Rob Hughes, operations director of First Manchester, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a settlement and that Unite has postponed its industrial action immediately.
“Unite has confirmed the union will recommend our latest pay offer to its members in a ballot next week.
“Our team remains focused on delivering excellent services in Oldham and the wider region.
“We would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding throughout our determined efforts to end this dispute.”
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