The operator at the heart of a bus strike issued an update on the industrial action as it entered its second week.

Drivers at Arriva have been on the picket line since Wednesday, July 20, with all services affected as a result. 

Howard Farrall, operating director for the North West and Wales, expressed his disappointment with the bus strike, to which there is no end in sight.

He claimed the trade unions involved, Unite and GMB, have refused to sit down with Arriva and the independent Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) in an attempt to end the industrial action.

Mr Farrall said: "We are disappointed for all our customers affected by the continuing strike action, with still no date yet for services being resumed.  

"We remain committed to getting our drivers back to work and our buses back on the road as soon as possible. So, it is frustrating Unite and GMB have refused both to consider calling off the strike while we bring in ACAS – or to even meet with them."

Mr Farrall stressed an 8.5 per cent pay rise is still on the table for the drivers.

He added: "As we have stated repeatedly, we greatly value our people. They do a crucial job, keeping our communities and customers moving. They thoroughly deserve a pay rise, especially with the cost of living increasing. 

"While trade union members are receiving ‘strike pay’, we recognise the importance of getting all our colleagues back to work. Not only does the bus strike harm the communities we serve, it is in nobody’s interest for this strike to persist a day longer.

"It’s why we’ve put on the table a very generous increase for bus drivers at 8.5 per cent, which is higher than most workers in either the public or private sector are receiving in these difficult economic times. But any pay rises must be affordable, to protect jobs and ensure bus networks are sustainable when Government funding support finishes in the autumn.

"We ask, again, for the union leadership to suspend the strike, so we can serve our communities and work with us and ACAS to now bring this dispute to a swift resolution."

These are the services affected in Trafford. An asterisk means some of the services are covered by Goodwins.

18 - Eccles - Trafford Park - Sale - Manchester Airport

19 - Altrincham - Sale - Sale Moor - Northern Moor - Wythenshawe

245 - Altrincham - Sale - Urmston - The Trafford Centre

247 - The Trafford Centre - Flixton - Partington - Altrincham

263 - Altrincham - Sale - Stretford - Hulme - Piccadilly Gardens

280* - Altrincham - Mossbrow - Partington - Carrington - Sale

281* - Altrincham - Broadheath - Brooklands - Sale Moor - Sale

282* - Altrincham - Oldfield Brow - John Leigh Park (Circular)

283* - Altrincham - Hale - Hale Barns - Well Green (Circular)

284* - Altrincham - Well Green - Hale Barns - Hale (Circular)

285* - Altrincham - Timperley - Timperley Grange (Circular)

286* - Altrincham - Timperley Grange - Timperley (Circular)

287* - Altrincham - Rosehill - Bowdon - Bowdon Vale (Circular)

288 - Altrincham - Hale - Hale Barns - Manchester Airport (Evenings and Sundays Only)

For information on alternatives, go to tfgm.com/arriva-bus-strike.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.