Greater Manchester: Tram workers accept pay deal, averting strikes

Tram workers in Greater Manchester have accepted a pay offer, ending a long-running dispute and averting further strikes.

Metrolink staff had planned to stage industrial action on 10^th and 11^th June after rejecting the offer of a 5 percent pay rise over a period of 15 months. However, an improved deal was tabled after representatives from the Unite trade union met with the region’s mayor, Andy Burnham, earlier in the month.

More than 95 percent of Unite members balloted voted in favour of the new deal, which included a 6.5 percent pay rise and a one-off payment of £1,000.

According to the BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service, the wage increase will be backdated to January.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester’s transport body said: “The cost of the salaries payable to its staff are the responsibility of KeolisAmey Metrolink as part of its contract to operate and maintain the network.”

They added: “Any impact on TfGM/GMCA would only arise beyond the contract term.”

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