DRIVERS at Blackburn’s Intack bus depot have been balloting on possible industrial action over the festive season.
Last month they voted to give their union Unite power to call a strike or other measures starting on Thursday.
The dispute is over new shift patterns and changes to drivers’ working hours and breaks.
Following intensive talks between union officials and management a new deal has been hammered out and the result of a vote on whether to proceed with the industrial action will be announced later today.
The former Blackburn Transport depot, now owned by Transdev-Lancashire United, has 180 drivers operating 75 routes.
They stretch as far as Clitheroe, Manchester, Burnley and Preston and comprise more than 1,000 services a day.
Transdev-Lancashire United sales director Nigel Eggleton said: “Discussions with Unite about proposed changes to working patterns at our Blackburn depot have proved to be constructive.
“As a result we’re confident that a recent decision to permit industrial action will no longer be required.”
In a boost to shoppers and commuters, Blackburn with Darwen Council has announced it will subsidise a limited Boxing Day bus service.
It will help people get to the two town centres, visit the hospital and attend Blackburn Rovers match against Sheffield Wednesday.
Council transport boss Maureen Bateson said: “For many people Boxing Day is a normal working day. Although we can’t get to everyone, we want to assist as many people as possible.
“We haven’t done this for some years but decided it was important as it is also a busy shopping day in both town centres.”
There will be revisions to routes including circular services.
The routes are: 1, Blackburn to Darwen; 2, Blackburn to Feniscowles via Ewood; 152, Feniscowles to Blackburn; 12C and 12A, Highercroft Circular; 3, Revidge; 4A, Mill Hill; 22A, Blackburn to RBH, Shadsworth and Intack; 22A, Brownhill and Roe Lee to Blackburn.
Services will run hourly. Information will be available on stops and at blackburn.gov.uk/ Pages/Public-transport.aspx
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