Metrolink Manchester tram strikes back on disrupting travel during the festive season

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 Unite members had been balloted on new plans by Metrolink to change rotas and add in additional rest days, however around 60 new drivers would need to be recruited in order to implement these changes meaningfully. 

Metrolink has claimed this could take up to two years, however Unite believes this can be done more quickly with proper investment in training and short-term service frequency adjustments. 

Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham said: "The vote to reject their employer's offer and press ahead with industrial action shows how concerned and angry drivers are about chronic levels of fatigue. 

"The fatigue problem needs to be fixed now. Our members and the general public, who are currently being put at risk, cannot wait for change to be implemented months or years down the line and they continue to have Unite’s full backing during this dispute.” 

Drivers involved in the dispute at Metrolink work at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in the city and operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester, meaning the strikes will be very disruptive. 

They will walk out on December 19, 20 and 31. This will impact journeys during the last Friday before Christmas - historically a very busy night for hospitality in the city and the busiest shopping day of the year (December 20) 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 action include Manchester City v West Ham at the Etihad Stadium and Doves and Jools Holland concerts. 

Unite Regional 0fficer, Colin Hayden added: "Fatigue is a very serious issue for our drivers and one they feel very strongly about when it comes to protecting their own as well as their passengers' safety. 

"Drivers have said it's not a case of if an accident will occur, but when. Metrolink and Transport for Greater Manchester's plans are promising them jam tomorrow - but the fatigue problem needs to be tackled now as a matter of urgency. 

"Metrolink must commit immediately to recruiting more drivers to ensure rota changes can be implemented quickly. This is the only way to prevent strike action." 

The KeolisAmey Metrolink tram system, part of Greater Manchester’s integrated transport network the Bee Network, is the largest in the UK. Last year, it handled a record 45 million journeys last year with four million of these taking place last December. 

Two of the strike dates, December 19 and 20 also coincide with industrial action by 200 Unite members working for Transport for Greater Manchester on the Bee bus network.