COMMUTERS are facing a transport nightmare after a series of bus strikes were announced.

More than 1,300 Stagecoach drivers will walk out on six days of large-scale action. The knock-on effect is likely to cause pre-Christmas misery for thousands of passengers.

Strikes have been planned for 27 and 29 November as well as 1, 3, 5 and 7 December. Those most likely to be affected are bus users in the south of Manchester where the operator has most of its routes.

The announcement, made yesterday, comes after last-minute crisis talks broke down.

Drivers are said to be furious over the terms of a new pay deal.

Union Unite is claiming they receive 15 per cent less than counterparts who work for other operators in Manchester.

The drivers have been offered a 50p per hour rise, to be reviewed in 15 months.

Deal

But drivers and unions were looking for a deal that would be reviewed next September. They claim that 15 months is too long to wait and will see them fall further behind in the pay stakes.

Bobby Morton, from union Unite, said that Stagecoach drivers were paid £8.50 an hour compared with drivers for First who currently receive £9.12.

It is understood that a pay increase for First drivers is on the verge of being completed and Mr Morton added: "Our drivers at Stagecoach are well behind the going rate in Manchester and it's simply not good enough to be fobbed off with a deal which will see them slip further behind."

Mr Morton, the regional industrial organiser, apologised to passengers for the likely disruption but said: "A strike to me is our nuclear weapon. It is something we have and are reluctant to use but it is something we are going to have to do here.

"We feel for passengers if we do cause disruption. However, we are talking about 1,300 drivers here who all have families and their lives will be disrupted. This is such an important issue we feel we have to go ahead with the action."

Mr Morton also offered an olive branch to Stagecoach chiefs.

Negotiate

"I would like to say that I am available 24 seven for talks if they want to negotiate this joint problem."

But bosses from Stagecoach have slammed the planned strikes.

Spokesman Steve Simpson accused the union of `cherry picking' their figures.

"They have chosen a very specific rate available to a select few drivers at First," he said.

"That's unfair. Those who start with us without qualifications receive 10 per cent more than they do at First. Even when drivers have been with us two or three years they are still among the best paid in Manchester and the deal we offered would have cemented that.

"I am sure the people of Manchester will be left scratching their heads and will be extremely angry. These are well-paid drivers who have been offered an above inflation pay deal. The decision to strike does not make sense."

He added that Stagecoach said that they were assessing the impact the strikes would have and said passengers can visit their website, www.stagecoachbus.com/Manchester, from Thursday onwards for more information.