Go North West 2021 strike

Operators covering the strike

During the period in question, Go North West tried to to break the strike by outsourcing services to companies including APH, Edwards Coaches, Belle Vue, Selwyns, Tyrers, Travellers Choice, Red Rose Travel, Bullocks, Connexions Buses, MP Travel, Regalway (Viking), Vision Coaches, Atlantic Travel, Mostonian 2000 Coaches, Coach Travel Solutions, Harris Travel, Red Routemaster, Midland Classic, York Pullman and Widnes Coaches.

Many of the “scab” services used vehicles which did not meet accessibility standards, including many of the coaches not being accessible to disabled people, and there have been examples of buses running with too many passengers to be Covid safe and of dangerous driving.

What the companies had to say

At the start of the industrial action, a spokesperson for Go North West said “The deal tabled by the company ensures there will be no cuts to drivers’ pay or working hours, includes a ‘no redundancies’ undertaking, and guaranteed ‘inflation proof’ pay increases in April 2021 and April 2022. In addition, each of our drivers would receive an upfront payment of £5,000 in anticipation of the future savings improved productivity could deliver.”

Unite regional secretary Ritchie James said at the time to the Rochdale News: “Unite gave Go North West the opportunity to withdraw its fire and rehire plans following the overwhelming vote for strike action, sadly it spurned this opportunity.”

The action ended in May 2021, with the Manchester Evening News reporting on the 6th May that an agreement could be on the cusp of “breaking after 10-week stalemate”