Transport for Greater Manchester strikes increase after employer cancels talks

Hundreds of Greater Manchester workers are going on strike through November, with further action planned if a wage increase deal is not reached. 

Across Manchester’s transport services, workers belonging to Unite and Unison, two major trade unions, are walking out to demand a real-terms pay increase, better working conditions, and a 4-day working week.

Action took place on 12 November and 14 November, following strikes and work-to-rule action in previous weeks. Unite has warned of disruption and further industrial action if a deal is not reached. 

This action was announced after Unite workers rejected an offer of a 3.2% pay rise, which Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called “pay cuts dressed up as increases.”

One anonymous Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) union representative told The Mancunion: “It’s been nothing – radio silence from higher ups. They don’t know what to do, or they’re waiting for us to peter out.”

“We can’t have people on the bottom line losing out. We have to fight together, otherwise we’ll get nowhere.”

Striking workers include route planners, station assistants, engineers, IT experts, administrators, control room operators and cleaners. Drivers are not currently striking, and services are expected to remain functional.

TfGM managing director Steve Warrener said that the workers’ demands are “not affordable or sustainable.” 

“We’re continuing discussions with the unions and are doing all we can to limit any impact on passengers on strike days. Bus and tram services will run as normal and all our interchanges will be open, but some facilities – such as ticket offices and toilets – may be closed.”

These strikes are the latest in a wave of Manchester industrial action. NHS workershave announced plans to strike over job opportunities and pay, while Manchester airport workers have threatened action unless a deal is reached. Following strikes in October, Greater Manchester bus drivers won a pay increase of 5.9%, backdated to April. 

Unite has also announced that 320 tram drivers will strike in December over working hours and exhaustion. The actions, currently scheduled for 5-7 December, could result in major disruption to Manchester transport services over the festive period.