Festival-goers could be hit with travel disruption over the weekend of Parklife after Metrolink proposed a strike across the tram network.
Workers on the city’s tram system are set to begin balloting for strike action after what they have called a ‘woeful’ pay offer.
If they vote in favour of strike action, it’s been suggested that 10 and 11 June – the dates of this year’s Parklife festival – could be heavily affected.
And while thousands who descend on the festival site every summer make use of the shuttle buses organised, thousands more use the tram to get to Heaton Park.
Union Unite said members ‘are angry’ after Metrolink only offered a 5% increase on pay for a 15 month period, and proposed to move the annual pay anniversary date back from 1 January to 1 April.
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Unite also said that starting salaries at Metrolink are ‘very low’, with customer service relations (or tram inspectors) starting from £20,000, drivers from £22,000, and engineers from £26,000.
“Metrolink is guilty of making a woeful offer to our members. This is a company operated by two incredibly wealthy multinationals who can fully afford to make a fair pay offer but have chosen not to.” @UniteSharonhttps://t.co/huRB5xkKpB
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) May 10, 2023
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Metrolink are guilty of making a woeful offer to our members. This is a company operated by two incredibly wealthy multinationals who can fully afford to make a fair pay offer but have chosen not to.
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“Unite is entirely focussed on the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Metrolink will receive the union’s complete support.”
Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: “Metrolink has been given every chance to make a fair offer but has stubbornly refused to do so. As a result our members are now balloting for strike action.”
The ballot opened today and will close on 25 May, at which point details of Metrolink strike action will be discussed and the fate of trams to Parklife will be decided.
Mancs are being urged to bring tins of beans to upcoming gig – for a very wholesome reason
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Gig-goers in Manchester are being urged to bring tins of beans and other non-perishable items to a concert with them this month, for an excellent cause.
Squeeze are once again calling on fans, if they are able, to support UK charity helping those struggling this winter.
The band will be installing collection points at venues right across their tour, including their upcoming gig at the O2 Apollo in Manchester.
As Squeeze’s biggest ever UK headline tour, Tried, Tested and Trixies, joined by special guest Billy Bragg, launches this week, the iconic rock band are encouraging fans to help tackle food poverty by donating whatever they are able to.
Squeeze’s chosen charity, Trussell, is committed to alleviating nationwide poverty, through supplying emergency food and support to those in need and have been involved with the band for eight years and counting.
Since the beginning of the relationship back in 2018, generous fans attending Squeeze and Glenn Tilbrook shows have supported the initiative by donating an extraordinary 5.15 tons of food and raised £72,552 for Trussell’s food banks.
For the Manchester gig, collection points will be available at the O2 Apollo on Monday 23 November, where fans can donate non-perishable food items or make financial contributions towards the appeal. All donations will go directly to Trussell’s food banks, making a tangible difference to members of our communities.
It is important to note that fans are encouraged to check what their local food bank needs most before donating. Further guidance can be found HERE.
Glenn Tilbrook says: “When I first started collecting for food banks back in 2018, I had no idea how much our fans would take it to heart. The response has been overwhelming, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.
“But it’s deeply troubling that, eight years later, so many people are still struggling to put food on the table. The need hasn’t gone away, and neither has our determination to help.
Squeeze are urging people to bring food bank donations to their gigs. Credit: Brett Jordan on Unsplash
“If you’re coming to see us, please bring something along if you can, whether it’s a few tins of food or a couple of pounds. The audiences have been brilliant in the past, and I’m hoping we can make this our biggest collection yet.”
Chris Difford adds: “Our fans have been absolutely incredible in the way they’ve supported Trussell over the years. It’s genuinely moving to see people arriving at our shows carrying bags of food, knowing that what they’ve brought will help someone in the local community.
“We’ve always been very lucky to have such loyal and generous audiences, and this is another reminder of just how special they are. We’re hoping everyone will get behind the collections again on this tour. Even a small donation can make a real difference.”
Food banks across the UK continue to face enormous pressure, especially during winter, with households struggling with the rising costs of heating, food and other essentials that many of us take for granted.
Trussell recently shared that food banks in its community provided more than 2.6 million emergency food parcels last year, with over 900,000 of those parcels for children, as well as the amount of parcels provided to the elderly more than tripling between 2019 and 2025.
Emma Revie, co-chief executive of Trussell, said: “Too many people this winter will be struggling to make ends meet, as families are forced to make impossible decisions like whether to put food on the table or turn their heating on.
“Shockingly, we expect our community of food banks to distribute around 600,000 emergency food parcels to people facing hunger and hardship this winter. This isn’t right, and we refuse to stand by while so many of us can’t afford to eat, keep warm and pay the bills.
“That’s why we are so grateful to Squeeze for supporting Trussell once again on their upcoming tour. The band and their fans generosity will make a huge difference and allow our food banks to continue providing vital support to people without enough money to live on.”
Aside from this initiative, Squeeze will also be donating £1 for every ticket sold throughout their 16-date UK tour, to support grassroots music venues, artists, and promoters, recognising the role the independent music scene plays in nurturing future generations.
This tour, celebrating the release of the band’s critically acclaimed new studio album, Trixies is to be one to remember, combining new music with classics such as ‘Up The Junction,’ ‘Cool For Cats,’ and ‘Tempted.’
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Trixies is both the band’s first studio album in eight years as well as being the first album the band ever wrote which has received widespread acclaim, with MOJO awarding it five stars.
Trust us this isn’t one to miss – click HERE to get your hands on some of the last remaining tickers of rthe Manchester gig.
‘Prolific’ South Manchester burglar jailed for thefts which included peanuts…
Daisy Jackson
A ‘prolific’ burglar has been jailed for just over two years, for numerous thefts including sunglasses, airpods, and peanuts…
The man was caught red-handed inside someone’s property, where he claimed he was just wanting a glass of water – but was found by police officers to have the resident’s car keys in his pocket.
Fazal Alnesi, 26, from Moss Side, was then linked to a number of other burglaries, attempted burglaries, and thefts across South Manchester.
Fazal was sentenced to 27 months at Manchester Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to offences including six counts of burglary in June of this year.
He was arrested on 12 June, when a man returned to his home in Fallowfield in the early hours of the morning and discovered Fazal inside his address.
He claimed he was there because he wanted a glass of water but subsequently refused to leave, which led to police being called.
Officers placed Alnensi in handcuffs and found the resident’s car keys in his pocket, as well as indications that he’d been rummaging through the man’s drawers.
He was later linked to other thefts include a wrench set from a car, a pedal cycle worth £350, airpods, sunglasses – and even peanuts from one address.
He additionally took an electric bike charger from one address worth hundreds of pounds.
PC Jon Holden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Alnensi took various items from several homes and cars across a two-week period earlier this year, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods.
“Ultimately, Alnensi left people feeling unsafe in his own home, and I am glad he is now behind bars.
“Our team will investigate all burglaries, and I would encourage people to get in touch with us – all intelligence helps us lock up criminals and bring them to justice.”
Daisy Jackson -
11th May 2023 
