A strike by Arriva employees is expected to disrupt bus services on Wednesday. 

Crewe bus users travelling Congleton, Sandbach or Macclesfield will have trouble getting there.

Arriva bus drivers and support staff will begin strike action from 2am on 20 July, and will be happening across the North West.

Arriva staff are in dispute with the company over pay, raising the prospect of large-scale disruption for public transport passengers in the area.

There will be no planned Arriva bus services operating within Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, except for local Macclesfield services which will all run, with the exception of service 38 to Crewe.

Services that won't run include the 84 Crewe to Chester bus.

Employees voted overwhelmingly for industrial action. And strike action does not have an end date, but Arriva management will be holding further talks with the unions this week in a bid to swiftly resolve the dispute

Howard Farrall, North West & Wales Area Operating Director for Arriva UK Bus told Macclesfield Nub News the following:

"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 July 20," they said.

"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.

"However, All local Macclesfield services will run with the exception of service 38."

Unite and GMB have been contacted for comment.

The disrupted bus passes through places such as; Gawsworth, Rode Heath, Eaton, Congleton, West Heath, Arclid, Sandbach, and Haslington, before reaching Crewe.

People are being urged to make alternative travel arrangements. Crewe bus services provided by other operators are expected to be operating as normal.

Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets travelling will be able to use them on buses operated by D&G Buses.

READ MORE: New 2022 huge summer programme of kids activities announced for Crewe.

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