To all Stagecoach Manchester and Magic Bus Customers:

INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY DRIVERS

Planned Dates: 27th and 29th November and 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th December 2007.

Dear Customer,

Stagecoach Manchester is disappointed to announce that, despite lengthy negotiations and a pay offer well in excess of inflation, our drivers’ Unions have rejected all our attempts to resolve this dispute and have confirmed strike action beginning Tuesday 27th November and alternate days until 7 December 2007.

We are genuinely surprised and disappointed by the actions of the Union, following our negotiations over a new pay deal for drivers. We believe our initial offer of a 4.5 per cent immediate increase, is a very fair deal, and above the current inflation rate, and we have even offered to meet the six per cent increase they have requested, if this stands for 15 months rather than 12, but they have made the decision not to put this to the drivers to vote on.

By any standards this is a very good offer, and we are very disappointed the Unions have felt it impossible to settle this deal without strike action, and are pushing ahead to unnecessarily inconvenience passengers who rely on our bus services, particularly at this time of year.

I apologise for any inconvenience this will cause to our passengers and would like to ask for your patience and understanding until this dispute is resolved.

Thank you

Mark Threapleton

Managing Director.

Stagecoach is currently planning to run as many services as we can, however, due to limited resources this will be greatly reduced from our normal service levels. At this time we are planning to operate the following services:

* Every 15 mins between Hazel Grove and Manchester and every 7-8 mins between Stockport and Manchester.

Please click here to download a pdf of the detailed timetables. Services will operate between the hours of 0730 and 1800. Alternatively please ring traveline on 0871 200 22 33.

Stagecoach will operate a flat fare structure on the strike days.

£1 flat single fare for all services.

Adult Dayriders will also be available at £3.

Normal fares will apply for concessionary passholders (either free or flat 70p fare).

Weekly and other day tickets (including System 1 Daysavers) will not be available for sale on strike days.

Weekly Tickets

Tickets will be valid until the indicated validity date. In addition, weekly tickets will be extended to the following days: 

Tickets sold between Wednesday 21 November and Saturday 24 November will be valid until Sunday 2 December.

Tickets sold between Sunday 25 November and Sunday 2 December will be valid until Sunday 9 December.

No tickets will then be sold between Monday 3 December and Friday 7 December (last day of strike).

Sales will resume from Saturday 8 December with normal printed expiry dates.

Uniriders

Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply for a partial refund covering the total days of strike within the validity days of the ticket. £1 per strike day will be refunded. This will be completed at the end of the strike action. Refunds will be given upon receipt of an application form which will be available on this website, at travelshops and other Unirider outlets at the end of the strike.

Magicrider Term

Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply for a partial refund covering the total days of strike within the validity days of the ticket. £1 per strike day will be refunded. Passengers are advised to send in their ticket after its expiry date along with their name and address details to our FREEPOST address listed below.

Monthly and Annual Megarider

For Monthly Megarider customers the number of strike days within the validity of your ticket will be added to your next purchase.

Annual Megarider Ticket holders will have the opportunity to apply for a partial refund covering the total days of strike within the validity days of the ticket. £1.50 per strike day will be refunded. This will be completed at the end of the strike action. Refunds will be given upon receipt of an application form which will be available on this website or your employer at the end of the strike.

Details of refunds will be distributed to your employer or the outlet where you purchased your ticket.