Labour’s Andy Burnham approves a pay increase for bus drivers while serving as mayor, with reports saying the package provides rises of up to 56%. The Conservative Party criticises the decision, characterising it as a concession to unions and suggesting it could act as a cautionary example for other parts of the country. The coverage frames the measure as one of Burnham’s final actions in the role before he returns to Westminster.
Across the available accounts, the central points are that Burnham authorises a substantial pay rise for bus drivers and that the Conservatives publicly challenge the move on political grounds, arguing it reflects pressure from unions rather than broader policy considerations. The articles do not provide further detail on the funding source, timetable for implementation, or how the negotiations were conducted, but they present the decision as a significant and high-profile change to bus-driver pay during his mayoral tenure.
