All Arriva North West bus services are cancelled today (20 July) as workers go on strike.

Arriva North West buses has expressed disappointment as it confirms that Unions have informed the company of their intention to strike.

During this industrial action there will be no planned Arriva bus services operating within Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Cheshire, except for local Macclesfield services which will all run with the exception of service 38.  

In Lancashire, the following bus services will be disrupted:

310 - Liverpool to Ormskirk

362 - Wigan to Chorley

395 - Skelmersdale to Wigan

Howard Farrall, North West & Wales Area Operating Director for Arriva UK Bus said the team are "dissappointed" about the decision to strike.

He said: "We are very disappointed that we were unable to reach an agreement with Unite and GMB, who have confirmed they plan to hold a strike for an indefinite period across services in the North West from 02.00 Wednesday 20th July.

“Our people play a hugely important role keeping communities moving and they fully deserve a fair pay rise – especially with the cost-of-living increasing so much.  

“It’s why despite the significant pressures on the bus sector with increasing costs and passenger numbers still at below pre-pandemic levels, we have offered our people a generous pay rise of 8.5% - an increase far higher than most workers are receiving from their employers at a time of considerable economic pressure.

“Furthermore, we have tabled this offer during a time of significant focus on sustainability of our networks in partnership with our local public transport authorities, to ensure that Arriva continues to deliver and manage a viable bus network across the Region reflecting post-pandemic passenger trends.

“It isn’t right that the Unions wouldn’t put this latest offer to their own members and allow them to exercise their democratic right to vote.

“The mandate for strikes arose from a ballot of Unite and GMB members on a previous pay offer, meaning strikes are continuing without the improved proposal being put to employees by the Unions.

“Strike action is counter-productive, harms the communities and customers we serve, and damages bus travel at a time when we should all be focused on building recovery from the pandemic.

“ We’re calling on Unite & GMB to abandon their plans for this damaging strike and to ballot their members on the new offer."

Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets of seven days or more (that were purchased and activated before the date of the strike, and remain within their validity period) will be accepted for travel on some Metrolink lines

Wales services and services running out of Chester depot and into Chester from Wrexham and Rhyl are unaffected and will continue to operate.

Arriva urges all customers to check Twitter or Facebook before travelling.