Tram strikes were set to cause festive disruption this weekend in Greater Manchester, with drivers set to walk out in a dispute about fatigue, a lack of proper rest breaks and rota patterns. Now, those tram strikes from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 December have been postponed, after KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited offered improvements to rotas and shift patterns.
Which Metrolink staff would the strikes affect?
Drivers involved in the dispute at Metrolink work at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in the city and operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester, meaning any industrial action would be very disruptive. The KeolisAmey Metrolink tram system is the largest in the UK and last year handled a record 45 million journeys, with over four million trips taking place in each of May, October, November, and December.
Will trams operate as normal this weekend?
Metrolink trams will operate as normal this weekend (Friday 5 to Sunday 7 December).
Metrolink staff ballot for further tram strikes
Unite has stated that industrial action is now postponed following negotiations between them, the employer and Transport for Greater Manchester, which have ended in a new offer for drivers. They will now be balloted from now until Friday (5 December) on whether to accept this. If the ballot is unsuccessful, strike action on 19, 20 and 31 December will go ahead.
What will be affected by potential tram strikes later in December?
Pending another ballot, tram drivers would walk out on December 19, 20 and 31. This would impact journeys during a key part of the Christmas party season, as well as travel to and from New Year’s Eve events, including the St Peter’s Square fireworks, which attract around 20,000 spectators a year.
Other events that would be affected by this potential industrial action include Manchester City v West Ham at the Etihad Stadium and Doves and Jools Holland concerts. Two of the strike dates, December 19 and 20, also coincide with industrial action by 200 Unite members working for Transport for Greater Manchester on the Bee bus network.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Following escalation of strike action, Metrolink has come forward with potential improvements and solutions to the problems with fatigue and rotas.
“We have therefore put the strikes this weekend on hold to allow our members to have their say.”
TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, Danny Vaughan, said: “We’ve been working hard with KAM and Unite to come up with practical solutions to address concerns about driver rosters. The package offered includes commitments to improve working patterns and hire more drivers, in response to the union’s asks.
“We’re pleased that union colleagues have now postponed industrial action and will ballot their members, with a recommendation to accept the offer. It means all trams will run as normal this weekend across Greater Manchester.
“This is very welcome news. We’re gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the year in the city region, with thousands set to journey on public transport to the markets, nights out and major events in the build up to Christmas.”