Tram strike called off days before Parklife festival
Metrolink workers will now vote on a new pay deal
Tram strikes have been called off days before they were due to cause chaos for punters at Parklife festival and other major events in Greater Manchester. Metrolink staff have been offered a new pay deal by operator KeolisAmey.
It comes after mayor Andy Burnham met with union representatives in a bid to avert the industrial action planned for this weekend. The strikes were set to start on Saturday (June 10) while The Weeknd performs at the Etihad Stadium, Roger Waters appears at the AO Arena and Parklife happens at Heaton Park.
The strikes were set to continue through to Sunday (June 11) as the two-day festival continues and Soccer Aid returns to Old Trafford. More than 95 pc of union members at Metrolink who took part in the ballot supported the strikes.
It comes after staff were offered a 5 per cent pay rise for a 15-month period. But trade union Unite, which represents more than 600 members of staff at Metrolink, described the offer as a ‘very significant real terms pay cut’.
Talks involving Mr Burnham have been taking place all week. An improved pay offer was made following the talks brokered by the Greater Manchester mayor.
The latest undisclosed offer will now be put to a vote by members. Meanwhile, the strikes which were set to take place this weekend have been suspended.
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Unite made it clear from the outset that Metrolink was fully able to make an improved offer and as a result of the intervention of the mayor that has now occurred.
“Our members will now be balloted on the offer and they will decide if its meets their expectations.”
Metrolink workers who are members of Unite will now be balloted on the revised offer. If it is rejected then new strike dates would be announced.