KeolisAmey Metrolink (UNITE) Strike Calendar

Strikes by around 320 tram drivers working for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited later this month are back on, after workers overwhelmingly voted to reject the company's proposals for tackling driver fatigue. Drivers at Metrolink Manchester have the worst driving conditions across the UK compared to other light rail networks. Their shift patterns mean they work 450 hours over a 12-week period.

This results in some drivers working 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern, while many others work for six days in a row. They also have fewer rest days compared to colleagues in other operational departments such as engineering and customer support. Drivers say they are experiencing physical and mental health issues including exhaustion, cold and flu-like symptoms and stress due to the way their rotas are structured and the lack of proper breaks. They are also concerned that fatigue is putting themselves and passengers at risk as it affects concentration.

The drivers, members of Unite, were due to walk out from this Friday (5 December) to Sunday (7 December) in a dispute about fatigue, a lack of proper rest breaks and rota patterns which they felt put themselves and passengers in danger. The drivers work at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester and operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.

However, industrial action is now postponed following negotiations between Unite, the employer and Transport for Greater Manchester, which have ended in a new offer for drivers. They will now be balloted from now until Friday (5 December) on whether to accept this. If the ballot is unsuccessful, strike action on 19, 20 and 31 December will go ahead.

There will be further industrial action by 320 tram drivers working for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited this festive season, including on New Year's Eve. The drivers will now walk out on 19, 20 and 31 December in addition to the strikes planned for this coming weekend, 5 to 7 December. This will impact journeys during a key part of the Christmas party season, as well as travel to and from New Year's Eve events including the St Peter's Square fireworks which attract around 20,000 spectators a year. Other events that will be affected by this additional industrial action include Manchester City v West Ham at the Etihad Stadium and Doves and Jools Holland concerts.

The dispute is over driver fatigue and fears that their shift patterns and lack of rest breaks is putting them and passengers at risk. Unite has repeatedly raised issues with management but has been told there is no funding available for improvements to working patterns.

This dispute centres around fatigue. Currently, the drivers’ shift patterns mean they work 450 hours over a 12-week period. This results in some drivers working 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern. They also have fewer rest days compared to colleagues in other operational departments such as engineering and customer support, meaning drivers have suffered from fatigue due to not having adequate breaks and are concerned about operating heavy passenger vehicles while exhausted. Unite has repeatedly raised the issue with management but has been told there is no funding available for improvements to working patterns.