Ring-ride service hit by strike over pay

SCORES of journeys face disruption tomorrow as Oldham’s Ring-and-Ride drivers prepare to strike from 8am to 11pm.

The service, based in Westpoint Industrial Estate Hargreaves Street, provides door-to-door journey for people who have difficulty using public transport.

But elderly and disabled passengers could be left stranded after members of the Unite union across the Greater Manchester-wide service voted to strike over pay.

One Oldham driver, who did not want to be named, said: “All of the drivers in Oldham, about 20 in total, will be striking and that will affect Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton as well as in Oldham.

“It will have an effect on people such as pensioners who want to get out for meals or children who need taking to school. The drivers have considered the effect of strike action but there is no option.”

The dispute is over a revised pay deal which offers a 10p an hour increase.

About 280 drivers, supervisors and clerical staff at Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Limited (GMATL), which runs the service, will take part in the action. Transport for Greater Manchester, formerly GMPTE, funds the service.

Unite said workers had already suspended two days of strike action in an effort to resolve the dispute.

Mick Chalmers, regional officer, said: “They work hard and all they are asking for is a fair deal for all its work force. We urge GMATL’s management to get back around the table and enter into mature negotiations to resolve this dispute a quickly a possible.”

Bernard Rowen, managing director of Ring and Ride, said it was disappointing that members had voted for industrial action.

He said: “We have worked closely with Unite to try to negotiate a way forward, including an offer of an hourly pay increase for drivers and senior drivers.

“However, it is simply not financially possible for Ring and Ride, a publicly-funded organisation, to offer all its staff a substantial pay increase this year, particularly in the current economic climate.

“We are sorry for the disruption the industrial action by some of our drivers and call centre staff will inevitably cause.

“Although we will work to provide the best service we can with a limited number of staff, a large proportion of services are likely to be cancelled.”

He added that the service would contact passengers who had already booked journeys for tomorrow to advise them of the strike.