Andy Burnham has been criticized for approving a substantial pay increase for nearly 600 bus drivers in Greater Manchester, a move opponents describe as "capitulating" to union demands. The deal provides an increase of up to 56 percent over three years, finalized shortly before Burnham's return to Westminster as the Member of Parliament for Makerfield.
The agreement between the Unite union and bus operator Go North West comes after months of negotiations and followed threats of strike action. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, hailed the outcome as a "huge win." This pay rise addresses what union sources described as historic disparities compared to other drivers in the network.
Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden stated the pay deal serves as a "warning" and suggested that if Burnham were to become Prime Minister, he would enact policies favoring union paymasters. "Labour are the party of welfare and the unions, as Burnham has already shown by his record in Manchester," Holden commented.
Greater Manchester's bus services are publicly controlled under the Bee Network, which Burnham has promoted as a model for other regions. Since the services were brought under public control in 2023, following a court battle, they have undergone rebranding, with a significant number of new electric buses introduced. Transport for Greater Manchester, which oversees fares, routes, and timetables, has also been involved in mediating with unions.
Punctuality and passenger numbers have reportedly increased since the reversal of deregulation, with passenger numbers up by nearly a quarter. However, the network's overall passenger satisfaction ranks 26th out of 43 English areas, according to a Transport Focus survey. The network also relies heavily on taxpayer subsidies, which rose to a record £83.7 million in 2025, more than double the amount two years prior.
A spokesperson for Transport for Greater Manchester defended the increased subsidy, stating it reflects the expansion of services under local control. The spokesperson highlighted improvements in passenger numbers, frequency, punctuality, and affordability, along with the procurement of new buses. They also noted that a recent independent survey showed the Greater Manchester bus network performing well in terms of passenger satisfaction with value for money compared to the rest of the country.
One transport industry source, however, viewed the pay increase as a "capitulation to union demands," expressing concern about a potential "domino effect" on pay negotiations across the wider network. Other bus operators in Greater Manchester had previously settled pay disputes with increases ranging from 5.9 percent to 20 percent.