Bus services across Lancashire will be disrupted for foreseeable future after talks to end strike action have collapsed.

Arriva North West has cancelled bus services in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester as strike action, which started on July 20, continues.

The bus operator recently spoke with members of Unite and GMB union but they failed to come to an agreement.

Arriva said they were “extremely disappointed” that the unions walked away from their “very generous offer”.

However, GMB Union say the offer is not an improvement and say workers deserved a fair wage.  

A spokesperson for Arriva North West said: “We are extremely disappointed that despite further negotiations today with Unite and GMB and a very generous improved offer, the unions have once again walked away without even agreeing to put our offer to their members. 

“This means we continue to face ongoing strike action across the North West region, causing continued misery for passengers.

“We have worked tirelessly to reach an agreement on a way forward, today making an offer that would have seen our drivers being the  highest paid in the region, with no changes to current employee benefits and a lump sum of backdated pay to April 1, 2022.

“Our customers will share our frustration at the Unions’ unreasonable stance.

“We are seeking to engage ACAS to help bring a resolution to this situation and we urge Unite and GMB to immediately reconsider their position, call an end to strike action and give their members the opportunity to ballot on our generous pay rise.”

Robert Marnell, GMB Organiser, said: “Arriva need to get serious and actually negotiate.

“With the same headline pay offer as they had already stated, they haven't even taken these talks seriously. 8.5 per cent is still a pay cut in real terms. 

"With inflation rocketing and working people facing a cost of living crisis - they deserve fair pay.”

The strikes will disrupt the following Lancashire Arriva North West services:

  • 300                         Liverpool to Southport
  • 310                         Liverpool to Ormskirk
  • 362                         Wigan to Chorley
  • 375/385                Southport to Wigan
  • 395                         Skelmersdale to Wigan