Arriva bus drivers in Greater Manchester and across the North West are to begin strike action today over pay disputes.
Bus passengers throughout the region are being warned to expect disruption as the majority of the company’s buses will not be running starting from today (20 July), when members of the Unite and GMB unions begin striking for an “indefinite period” of time.
After staff were said to have been in negotiations with the company over pay for the past three months, 96% of union members voted for strike action, and from today, more than 1,800 Arriva workers in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside will not go to work.
Despite the three-month negotiations, and Arriva having already offered workers a pay rise of 8.5%, GMB union says this offer had “not met inflation rates”.
Arriva now wants union members to vote on this latest pay offer.
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Members of the Unite and GMB unions are striking for an “indefinite period” of time / Credit: Arriva UK
“No worker should be struggling to cover their bills, but in the face of a cost of living crisis, Arriva needs to get real on its pay offers,” said Robbie Marnell, Regional Organiser at GMB Union.
“Hopefully the company will listen and get back around the table with a fair offer.”
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Howard Farrall – Operating Director at Arriva UK’s North West & Wales Area – said strike action is “counter-productive” in response, and claims it “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.”
— Arriva North West (@arrivanorthwest) July 19, 2022
He called on Unite and GMB to abandon plans for “this damaging strike” and to “ballot their members on the new offer.”
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Arriva customers with pre-paid tickets travelling in Cheshire will be able to use them on buses operated by D&G Buses, and services running out of the Chester depot, and into Chester from Wrexham and Rhyl, are unaffected and will continue to operate.
Bus services by other operators are also expected to be running as normal in Greater Manchester.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
20th July 2022 
