The BBC is reporting that tram drivers have voted, and 97% of the 300-plus drivers have voted for, strike action. Initially 25-26 September, subsequently 10 October and 24 October.
These dates apparently coincide with events in Manchester, but whether or not the dates have been chosen deliberately I don't know - just about any weekend would probably coincide with some "event" in or around Manchester.
The report is that the drivers were offered a 1% pay rise, which Unite describes as "pitiful". I tend to agree with this description, but presumably this has been done because there is no money available - so one outcome might be a hand-out to allow the pay rise to be increased in due course.
EDIT The BBC report is at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58551233:
EDIT If this is the opening gambit by TfGM to provoke a response, in the hope that this can be escalated to central government in the hope of a hand-out to fund a larger pay rise, then it occurs to me that the government has form for attaching conditions to this sort of money. So essentially it's good to have local democracy, Andy Burnham and all, but his freedom of action will be curtailed by the people holding the purse-strings in Whitehall. What sort of conditions could be imposed on him in order to get more money I wonder?
These dates apparently coincide with events in Manchester, but whether or not the dates have been chosen deliberately I don't know - just about any weekend would probably coincide with some "event" in or around Manchester.
The report is that the drivers were offered a 1% pay rise, which Unite describes as "pitiful". I tend to agree with this description, but presumably this has been done because there is no money available - so one outcome might be a hand-out to allow the pay rise to be increased in due course.
EDIT The BBC report is at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-58551233:
I observe that the latest Health and Social Care Levy of 1.25% from April 2022 amounts to a roughly 1% cut in take-home pay to anyone earning £50,000/year (it's levied on income starting from slightly less than £10,000). The £50,000 figure may be a bit high for a Metrolink driver, although perhaps with overtime and shift pay it isn't, but if not it means that the starting point of a 1% pay rise only reverses this additional levy, so any other inflationary effect will mean a pay cut in real terms.Metrolink strikes to hit Manchester sporting events
Tram drivers have voted to strike at weekends in a move expected to hit two major sporting events in Manchester.
The move comes after Metrolink drivers were offered a 1% pay rise, which trade union Unite described as "pitiful."
The first strike, on the weekend of 25-26 September, would coincide with The Great Manchester Run and a Manchester United home fixture.
Operator KeolisAmey Metrolink and Transport for Greater Manchester both called the vote "disappointing".
Ninety-seven percent of the 300-plus drivers and supervisors, who are members of Unite, voted to strike on the weekend when Manchester United play Aston Villa at Old Trafford on the Saturday.
Competitors and spectators for the Great Manchester Run the following day have been advised to use public transport due to extensive road closures in the city centre.
Further strikes are planned for 10 October, the day of the Manchester Marathon, and on 24 October when United play Liverpool at home.
Unite claims a 0.3% pay increase for the period from January to March followed by a 0.7% rise from April 2021 to April 2022 is a "pay cut in real terms" when set alongside inflation.
Regional officer Dave Roberts said: "Metrolink tram workers, who continued to work throughout the pandemic, are simply not going to accept a frankly pitiful pay deal."
The union's general secretary Sharon Graham said: "One minute tram drivers are being hailed as heroes and the next they are facing a real-terms pay cut."
A statement from KeolisAmey said the company was "disappointed" and would "continue to engage with Unite to work towards an agreement that prevents any strike action".
Transport for Greater Manchester's head of Metrolink Danny Vaughan said: "There is no good time for strike action, but the days picked will affect participants and spectators of two very significant and much-welcome events."
EDIT If this is the opening gambit by TfGM to provoke a response, in the hope that this can be escalated to central government in the hope of a hand-out to fund a larger pay rise, then it occurs to me that the government has form for attaching conditions to this sort of money. So essentially it's good to have local democracy, Andy Burnham and all, but his freedom of action will be curtailed by the people holding the purse-strings in Whitehall. What sort of conditions could be imposed on him in order to get more money I wonder?
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