TRANSLINK last night said it was taking "difficult decisions in preparing for the impact of the strike action" by bus drivers in Northern Ireland this week.
In a statement, the company said it remained "committed to working with the unions to avert this action".
It comes amid fears of a complete shutdown of bus services across the north, after drivers voted for strike action in a dispute over pay. A planned strike last month by the GMB and Unite unions was called off after Translink made a revised pay offer.
But the public transport operator last week announced the two unions have voted to go ahead with industrial action for seven days from tomorrow until May 23.
The action, which will include Ulsterbus and Metro drivers, cleaners and shunters, could potentially also leave 55,000 school children without transport for a week.
It also comes as pupils are this week due to sit GCSE, AS and A-levels, with exams in English, Maths, Geography, History and Irish among those set to take place.
In its statement posted on its website and on social media, Translink said it was "disappointed" by the pending industrial action by Unite and GMB.
"Following extensive negotiations, we made a further substantial offer for 2021, including an enhanced package of conditions, that we believe is fair and reasonable," the company said.
"At this stage, having exhausted all options, we are taking the difficult decisions in preparing for the impact of the strike action.
"However, we do remain committed to working with the unions to avert this action.
"We have reached out and would welcome the opportunity to engage with unions to cover school duties, so that the wellbeing of schoolchildren can remain a priority, particularly as many enter the exam period.
"We are currently awaiting an update on this from our unions."
In a statement last week, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The employers have to grasp that with inflation reaching levels unprecedented in a generation, these workers deserve pay that protects them from the living costs crisis and they have Unite’s full support as they take strike action".
Unite deputy regional secretary Davy Thompson added that the action "is likely to shut down all bus services across Northern Ireland and will be hugely disruptive to public transport".
