A THREATENED bus strike, which would have left thousands of local commuters stranded, has been averted.

Today's (September 10) planned industrial action by First Manchester staff was called off following talks between the company and representatives of the T & G Union.

Earlier, 88 per cent of the workforce had voted in favour of strike action. Today's action would have been the first of two planned stoppages.

T & G officials say the dispute was triggered by the company seeking to resolve a local labour shortage. They claim First Manchester increased the starter rate for new drivers by ten per cent but were paying for the increase by introducing "poorer working conditions" for all drivers.

But at crunch talks on Wednesday, First Manchester bosses decided to withdraw the offer of a revised new driver recruit pay package.

Mr Garry Raven, managing director, said: "The withdrawal of this package is a great disappointment to the company, as it will be to a large number of potential new staff.

"The package was designed to improve the pay rates of both new starters and many of our existing drivers by between ten and 28 per cent."

"However, because of the position adopted by the trade union side and because of the disruption which strike action would cause our valued customers, we have been faced with no option but to withdraw the package in its entirety."

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