Metrolink strike ?

[K12r]

Manchester Evening News posted article on potential Metrolink stricke at end of August as result of ongoing pay dispute.

Metrolink drivers could stage a strike this summer in a dispute over pay - on the August Bank Holiday Manchester Pride weekend.

KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM), which runs the tram network, is understood to have offered drivers a 3.3 per cent pay rise with extra cash for unsociable hours worked.

The unsociable hours payment would be increased from £1 per hour to 10 per cent on top of their pay for hours worked between 10pm and 6am.

But while some staff have accepted this, drivers have refused....

3.3 % offer ( reasonable ? ) has been declined.

From the report there’s little / nil public support, esp following considerable rise a couple of years ago.

Reasonable dispute or unreasonable greed ? Should tram driver get same pay as cop / senior nurse / junior doctor/ teacher ?

 

[Jonfun]

It really makes no odds whether there's public support or not. It isn't their decision or their dispute, it's between the staff and management. The public can hate it or love it as much as they want - if a strike is called, a strike is called!

 

[Dave1987]

You never ever know what strings are attached to any pay offer! And the media are only interested in the headline figure.

I get the feeling OP that you are looking for an argument on pay?

And I agree with the previous post that it doesn't matter whether there is public support for the strike or not. They are perfectly entitled to strike if they vote to do so.

 

[K12r]

I’m not looking for an argument bout anything.
Just interested if the folks on here reflect the views of the non specialist public.

 

[K12r]

It really makes no odds whether there's public support or not. It isn't their decision or their dispute, it's between the staff and management. The public can hate it or love it as much as they want - if a strike is called, a strike is called!

Well, it does matter what the public think because that will have an impact one way or the other on the stance of each side.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c.../metrolink-strike-bank-holiday-pride-14930519

 

[Dave1987]

I do not know the ins and outs of the dispute and what the conditions of the pay deal are so can't offer an opinion. My opinion does not matter. They clearly feel the pay on offer for the conditions they will have to accept are unacceptable so they have voted for strike, as is their right.

 

[K12r]

I do not know the ins and outs of the dispute and what the conditions of the pay deal are so can't offer an opinion. My opinion does not matter. They clearly feel the pay on offer for the conditions they will have to accept are unacceptable so they have voted for strike, as is their right.

I understand there are no negative strings attached to the 3.3 offer, and that no strike has yet been voted for .

 

[Dave1987]

I understand there are no negative strings attached to the 3.3 offer, and that no strike has been voted for .

Apologies they are being balloted. But again that is their right to do so. From reading the article it looks like there is more to it than just rejecting the pay increase. I remember when a certain tabloid paper reported on another "massive" pay increase for drivers a year or so ago. Turns out that wasn't as massive as stated when taking into account the length of time of the increments and the conditions attached to it. Papers don't always report the full story or know the full facts.

 

[K12r]

Still, 3.3% with no negative strings isn’t too shabby

 

[theking]

Hahaha Keolis Amey strikes again and people think they'll run the service better than Arriva in Wales are in for a nasty surprise.

 

[whoosh]

If it's below RPI then it's a real terms pay CUT.

Comparison with other jobs is a bit silly; the Police have no industrial muscle as they can't go on strike. Nurses won't go on strike. Firefighters will go on strike but get replaced by the Army. Teachers will go on strike, but then the Headteacher makes the day of the strike school sports day and the teachers end up going in so as not to spoil the kids day of fun.

ALL of the above are only in a position to be constantly mugged off.

 

[N!ck]

If it's below RPI then it's a real terms pay CUT.

Comparison with other jobs is a bit silly; the Police have no industrial muscle as they can't go on strike. Nurses won't go on strike. Firefighters will go on strike but get replaced by the Army. Teachers will go on strike, but then the Headteacher makes the day of the strike school sports day and the teachers end up going in so as not to spoil the kids day of fun.

ALL of the above are only in a position to be constantly mugged off.

Army don't cover firefighter strikes anymore, stopped doing about 15 years ago

 

[K12r]

RPI is presently 2.3%. Not sure how the lack of willingness / ability to strike of the workers who currently get what the drivers seek is a measure of anything though.

 

[pemma]

It really makes no odds whether there's public support or not. It isn't their decision or their dispute, it's between the staff and management. The public can hate it or love it as much as they want - if a strike is called, a strike is called!

The public can't influence the strike but the public are the one paying for the service, so if they move to alternative transport or get compensation on their season ticket for no service due to industrial action then that's less money available to give to the staff.

 

[gordonthemoron]

My railway pension has risen 3% this year, so 3.3% isn't much better

 

[beavercreek]

The railway normally uses Jan/Feb RPI figure which was 4% and 3.6%.
I’m not sure how it works at Metrolink but given June’s was at 3.4% it’s a paycut.
Most TOCs I think got at least 3.8% and some over 4% so I believe.

 

[pemma]

It seems the offer is actually 3.3% on all hours plus a 10% increase for hours worked between 10pm and 6am and it's been accepted by ASLEF members. Unite have rejected the offer with the union saying they are poorly paid and their members should be on the same level as Tyne & Wear Metro drivers.

 

[pemma]

but given June’s was at 3.4% it’s a paycut.

For it to be a relative pay cut the increase needs to be lower than the average increase in inflation over the past 12 months. Taking the figure for one month picked at random is meaningless.

 

[beavercreek]

For it to be a relative pay cut the increase needs to be lower than the average increase in inflation over the past 12 months. Taking the figure for one month picked at random is meaningless.

It’s what the railway does.Trust me if January’s figure was 2% and todays figure is 4% they would be using Januarys figure.
Metrolink don’t recognise ASLEF and I don’t know one member there.

 

[pemma]

It’s what the railway does.Trust me if January’s figure was 2% and todays figure is 4% they would be using Januarys figure.
Metrolink don’t recognise ASLEF and I don’t know one member there.

I know it's how unions operate but that doesn't automatically mean if the pay rise is less than the most recent RPI figure that it's a relative pay cut. You could have a pay offer of 2.5% being accepted when the most recent RPI figure is 2% and it being a relative pay cut if the average RPI over 12 months was 2.8%.

According to the M.E.N. other unions have accepted the current Metrolink offer. There are references to ASLEF and Metrolink in the same articles but there aren't any very recent ones e.g.

Metrolink staff have gone on strike only once before in the network's history. That was in 2004, when industrial action was over members of union ASLEF wanting to be recognised alongside Unite.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...r-news/metrolink-staff-vote-go-strike-8580322

 

[beavercreek]

Here is the last 12 months RPI figures.


Release Date Actual Forecast Previous
Jul 18, 2018 (Jun) 3.4% 3.5% 3.3%
Jun 13, 2018 (May) 3.3% 3.4% 3.4%
May 23, 2018 (Apr) 3.4% 3.4% 3.3%
Apr 18, 2018 (Mar) 3.3% 3.5% 3.6%
Mar 20, 2018 (Feb) 3.6% 3.7% 4.0%
Feb 13, 2018 (Jan) 4.0% 4.1% 4.1%
Jan 16, 2018 (Dec) 4.1% 3.9% 3.9%
Dec 12, 2017 (Nov) 3.9% 4.1% 4.0%
Nov 14, 2017 (Oct) 4.0% 4.1% 3.9%
Oct 17, 2017 (Sep) 3.9% 4.0% 3.9%
Sep 12, 2017 (Aug) 3.9% 3.7% 3.6%
Aug 15, 2017 (Jul) 3.6% 3.5% 3.5%

It’s only seen 3.3% twice so I’d say 3.9% is a fair deal in my opinion.

 

[185]

RPI is presently 2.3%.

Someone's probably going to tell me I'm wrong but as I understand it:

- 2.3% is the CPIH (Consumer Prices Index) which is generally based on shop prices.
- 3.4% is the all-indexes score, includes all the non retail sector stuff and is the true RPI.

Based on https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices

 

[185]

According to the M.E.N. other unions have accepted the current Metrolink offer. There are references to ASLEF and Metrolink in the same articles but there aren't any very recent ones e.g.

Usual MEN journalism based on stuff copied from Twitter, Wikipedia and Ladybird books.

What they actually meant was other grades - 3 of 4 groups have accepted the pay deal - Control Room, Inspectors and Engineers.

 

[yorkie]

Should tram driver get same pay as cop / senior nurse / junior doctor/ teacher ?

Let's not get into such a discussion; it isn't really relevant. It is a separate topic in its own right.

Wages are based on factors such as supply and demand and take into account factors such as the training & experience required, and not how 'worthy' a job is, or whether people think a job should be paid more than another job. If we are to have such a debate, it would have to be in a separate thread, and I am not sure it will end well.

 

[Greybeard33]

Strike now called off. Unite has accepted an improved offer.

Metrolink strike action averted as drivers accept 'one of the best pay deals in the UK this year'
Drivers to be paid £33,000 in salary boost

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-strike-action-averted-drivers-15000056

 

[Clip]

Metrolink drivers have accepted ‘one of the best pay deals in the UK this year’ - averting strike action planned for later this month.

Unite the union has hailed the salary package as a ‘great achievement’ which will see grade three drivers - those with more than 18 months’ experience - paid £30,000, backdated to January this year.


By January 2019, they will be on £33,000.

More than 340 Unite members working for Metrolink Manchester voted to accept the deal, which marks a 3.7pc rise backdated to January 2018; 10pc from January 2019; and the retail price index (RPI) from January 2020.

Steve Davies, Unite regional officer, said: “We are pleased with the very good package that our members have accepted which must be one of the best such deals negotiated in the UK this year.

“The deal addresses the long-term concerns of our members who were angry at the fact that their previous pay levels were up to £7,000 less than tram drivers in other UK cities for doing the same job.

“As a result of the vote, our members will be working normally to keep the people of Greater Manchester on the move.

“Going forward, we wish to have a constructive dialogue with the management of Metrolink Manchester for the benefit of the travelling public and the workforce.”

Members of Unite were balloted for a walk-out last month, with plans to hold strike action on the weekend of August 24 - the August bank holiday Manchester Pride weekend.

At that point, drivers had been offered a 3.3pc rise with extra cash for unsociable hours.

Added for clarity

 

[WatcherZero]

It was 3.3% base plus an increase in unsociable hours bonus pay.

They've accepted 3.7%, 10%, Inflation + 0%