Tram workers set to strike during Parklife
Metrolink workers have voted to walk out after rejecting a pay offer
Metrolink passengers across Manchester are set to face major disruption this year after tram workers have voted to go on strike.
Workers employed on the Manchester Metrolink tram system will strike over the weekend of June 10 and 11 after rejecting a pay offer from the company.
600 Unite members were balloted this week and following an 84% turnout, 95% voted to go on strike.
They had previously been offered a 5% pay rise over a 15-month period according to the union who say, given high inflation, it amounts to a "very substantial real terms pay cut."
The strike action will coincide with the city’s Parklife festival. Other events that will be disrupted by the strike action include Soccer Aid at Old Trafford, Roger Waters at the AO Arena and The Weekend at the Etihad Stadium.
"Metrolink suppressing pay"
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Metrolink is operated by vastly wealthy multinational companies that can fully afford to make our members a fair pay offer but they have chosen not to.
“Our members at Metrolink are frontline workers who play a vital role in keeping Manchester moving. It is incomprehensible that Metrolink thinks it is in any way acceptable to further suppress their pay when workers are struggling with a cost of living crisis.
“Unite is now entirely dedicated to defending and enhancing the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workforce at Metrolink will receive the union’s unflinching support.”
"I think that this is a fair offer"
Bosses at Metrolink say they are disappointed by the decision to strike and that nearly a dozen meetings have been held with the union since January.
Rob Cox from Keolis/Amey Metrolink told said:
"I've had 12 meetings with Unite to try to resolve this issue and discuss pay.
"I invited Unite yesterday to meet with me to resolve this and I really urge them to accept that invitation as a matter of urgency to avoid any disruption on the 10th and the 11th of June.
"I think it's a fair offer which compares well with what other people in Greater Manchester are getting.
"It's 5% for 2023 but it comes on top of a 7.8% increase that all staff got in 2022.
"That means that someone whose salary was £35,000 coming out of the pandemic, after this award is applied will be on far more than £39,000.
"That's a 13% increase, I think that this is a fair offer and I urge them to reconsider their industrial action."