Most bus strikes suspended, says city region mayor

About 2,000 Bee Network drivers were set to take more strike action from Tuesday

A strike by the majority of Greater Manchester's bus drivers has been suspended, the city region's mayor has said.

Passengers had been warned to face disruption as 2,000 drivers were due to walk out from Tuesday to Thursday.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said drivers from Bee Network operators First and Stagecoach would now work as normal, while it hoped Metroline drivers would also agree to suspend their planned strike action.

Mayor Andy Burnham said the three companies' drivers, who are members of the Unite trade union, would now be balloted.

'Services will run'

He said: "We've been working throughout the weekend, doing everything in our power to bring the negotiations between bus operators and union colleagues to a fair resolution.

"This is positive progress and we're pleased that union colleagues have now agreed to suspend strike action to ballot their members."

He added that "bus drivers deserve a better deal" but it has to be "affordable and sustainable for the Bee Network".

TfGM chief network officer Danny Vaughan the company was "pleased" the strike has been suspended and that "services will run as normal".

About 2,000 drivers took industrial action last week in their ongoing pay dispute.