Metrolink workers are set to bring Manchester to a “standstill” this summer as they take strike action over low pay.
With staff working across Greater Manchester‘s tram network said to be “furious” over a current “toxic pay structure” and a proposed “woeful” pay offer, it has now been announced that more than 600 members of the Unite union at Metrolink will stage industrial action and walk out later this month in a bid to make an impact during a busy summer of entertainment.
Drivers, engineers, business support, and customer service staff will be striking from next Thursday 25 July, through to Saturday 27 July.
Nearly 200,000 visitors are expected in Manchester over the three-day strike period.
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“It’s reprehensible how companies worth billions like Keolis and Amey can value their workers so poorly while lining the pockets of their shareholders. This is intolerable and our members will not accept it.” @UniteSharon
Workers are said to be angry that Metrolink was only prepared to make them a pay offer of a 4.5% increase in 2024, despite years of “below-inflation pay increases”, according to Unite, and are also “furious” at the pay structure that requires tram drivers to wait four years to get to the top of their pay scales.
Because of this wait, Unite says workers lose up to £15,000 as a result, despite doing the exact same job as their other colleagues.
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Unite says its members at Metrolink want guarantees of above-inflation rises over the next three years, due to accepting less than inflation (RPI) last year and a reduction in the pay progression scales within the drivers and customer service roles.
Metrolink workers are set to strike and bring Manchester to a ‘standstill’ this summer / Credit: TfGM
“It’s reprehensible how companies worth billions can value their workers so poorly while lining the pockets of their shareholders,” commented Unite’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham, ahead of the Metrolink strikes next week.
“This is intolerable, and our members will not accept it.
“Unite’s commitment to protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is absolute ,and our Metrolink workers will have the union’s total support throughout this dispute.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Family pay tribute to father-of-two killed in Rochdale plane crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man killed in a light aircraft crash in Rochdale have paid tribute to a ‘deeply loving father and devoted husband’.
36-year-old Arian Abbasi was one of two men killed when an aircraft crashed into farmland in Littleborough in Rochdale last week, after travelling from Birmingham.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 11am on Tuesday 3 February, but sadly pronounced both men dead at the scene.
It’s believed there was no one else on board the aircraft, and there were no reported injuries on the ground.
Now, Arian’s family have issued a moving tribute to him. He was a pilot from Harrow in Greater London.
They described him as being a ‘deeply loving’ family man, whose passion was flying.
He was about to embark on a new chapter with a commercial airline in just a few weeks’ time.
His family said: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.
“Flying was his passion, and he was on the brink of beginning an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on 23 February; a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination.”
GMP investigations are now focused on finding part of the parachute system which contains propellant and hasn’t yet been located.
Finding the device has been ‘very difficult’ due to the nature of the terrain and the wide area over which it may have travelled.
It measures approximately 10 cm in diameter and 30 cm long and has a red anodised finish. It weighs less than 2 kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end.
GMP said: “Please do not handle the device if you see it. If discovered, contact the police immediately via 101 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.”
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free bus travel to and from school
Emily Sergeant
Children who are currently living in temporary housing in Greater Manchester are set to get extra support with school travel.
In a move that was announced by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) at the end of last week, and following years of campaigning, homeless children living in temporary accommodation are now set to get free school travel on all Bee Network buses.
TfGM says it understands that some children end up a long way from their school when placed into temporary accommodation, and this leaves parents or carers with the difficult choice of either having to move them to a closer school, which ultimately disrupts their education, or having to pay unexpected travel costs.
While the Greater Manchester Strategy – which is the plan for the city region’s next decade – commits to reducing the number of families and children in temporary accommodation, and measures are also being taken to make sure residents have the support they need to ‘access, improve, and retain’ a decent, affordable home, this doesn’t tackle the immediate issue.
Homeless children in Greater Manchester will now get free school bus travel / Credit: TfGM
So, to help those families when they ‘need it most’, free bus travel to and from school is set to be provided, as subject to approval of this year’s Combined Authority budget.
The move comes after Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham asked TfGM last year to look at options to help with the cost of travel.
“Using our locally-controlled Bee Network buses to support families when they need it most is the right thing to do,” Andy Burnham commented.
Of course, the long-term solution is no kids in TA and we’re working with our councils to achieve this in the next few years.
We can do it because GM will soon hit the point where we are building more council and social homes every year than we’re losing through right-to-buy. 👍🏻
“A move into temporary accommodation is often a massive upheaval for families and can be a worrying time. With this measure, the cost of travel to school will be one less thing for families to worry about.
“It will mean parents and carers don’t have to choose between an extra demand on their household budget and keeping their children with friends and teachers they know and trust.”
Emily Sergeant -
16th July 2024 
