BREAKING: Metrolink tram staff to stage four days of strikes in row over pay

Metrolink staff will strike on four days over the next few weeks in a row over pay and a ‘merry-go-round of changing employers’.

Tram staff will walk out on September 29, and October 6, 13, and 20. It is not yet clear how services will be affected, but disruption is likely, according to GMB, the trade union which represents Metrolink workers.

“Manchester’s tram workers have delivered a 100 percent yes vote to take industrial action to demand the return of their sickness benefit scheme and bank holiday pay rates,” said GMB’s organiser, Shaun Buckley.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.

Join our FREE Manchester City Centre WhatsApp group by clicking here

“Since the contract was outsourced, GMB members have suffered worse terms and conditions and a merry-go-round of changing employers winning contracts to clean the trams. If Transport for Greater Manchester, the Manchester Mayor’s Office and Bidvest Noonan want to stop travel chaos for the city, the must stop the erosion of terms and conditions for these already low paid workers.”

The first day of the walk-out will take place the day before train drivers strike, on September 30. The following day, Sunday October 1, is the first day of the Conservative Party Conference.

This year, the convention is being hosted in the city, at the Manchester Central complex. A further day of industrial action is planned by Aslef on October 4, the final day of the event.

Earlier this year, Metrolink staff represented by Unite planned to strike over the Parklife festival weekend in June, but transport chaos was averted after eleventh-hour talks with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham.

Transport for Greater Manchester has