Protests cause disruption and delays to buses
ACTION ‘IN SOLIDARITY WITH KEY WORKERS’
THERE was disruption to a number of bus services in parts of Greater Manchester following a protest outside a depot yesterday morning.
Activists gathered outside the Go North West depot, on Queens Road in Cheetham Hill on Thursday morning, leading to delays to services in north Manchester, Salford and Bury.
It was one of several protests, in connection to proposed changes to drivers’ terms and conditions, to be held outside the depot in recent weeks.
The action is not understood to have been organised by trade unions, but by local activists in a display of solidarity with drivers at loggerheads with bosses over changes to their pay, terms and conditions.
The bus firm has warned of ongoing disruption throughout the morning while services get back to normal.
A number of school services are affected, including those for Cardinal Langley High School in Middleton,
Unsworth Academy in Bury, Hopwood Hall College in Middleton and Rochdale, Holy Cross College in Bury, Parrenthorn High School in Prestwich, Philips High School in Whitefield, Manchester Communication Academy in Harpurhey, Bury CofE High School and Bury College.
Shortly after 6.40am, Go North West Tweeted: “Due to an ongoing incident outside the depot we have disruption across our services.
“Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience this is causing you this morning.”
In response to Manchester Momentum replied: “Good Morning.
“Due to ongoing attacks on workers rights we are outside your depot.
“All services will continue to be disrupted. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we stand in solidarity with those key workers we clapped for”.
Go North West later wrote that the protest had ended, but warned that all its services this morning will be subject to delays or cancellation, and apologised for the inconvenience.