COMMUTERS could be faced with a bleak mid-winter as Metrolink and bus drivers threaten industrial action.

Bus drivers from First Manchester in Bury, Bolton and Leigh will be balloting for industrial action from Thursday (Dec 18) until January 5, after the company introduced changes to holiday periods and shift rotas.

Under the new scheme, shift patterns will no longer be posted months in advance and drivers say, for part of the year, they will not know when they are expected to work until just one week before.

A spokesman for First, said: "Talks were going on for three days last week. A deal has been reached and put to the membership. There are still final points to be discussed, and the parties are still talking. However, this might not stop the membership balloting." Metrolink services to Bury could be thrown into chaos over the festive period. Around 100 of Metrolink's 160 drivers have been involved in a ballot by ASLEF, which ended on Sunday (Dec 14). The result has not been announced yet, but if the outcome endorses industrial action, then 24-hour stoppages could follow.

The dispute centres on ASLEF demanding recognition from Metrolink bosses. Any industrial action sanctioned would require Metrolink to receive ten days' notice, but that could still cause major disruptions to late December and New Year services.