Workers at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to
stage walk out days before Christmas
Around 200 bus and tram network workers employed by
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) will stage
strikes shortly before Christmas in a strike over pay.
The low paid staff undertake a variety of roles including
ticketing, passenger assistance and information services across
the Greater Manchester transport network.
The four days of strike action will begin at 00:01 on
Thursday 12 December and will continue until 23:59 on
Sunday 15 December. There will be a further strike from
Friday 20 December until Monday 23 December. Strike action
is set to further escalate unless an agreement is reached.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Our members at
TGM undertake an essential role in keeping public transport
functioning. It is disgraceful that the company thinks that
institutional poverty pay is acceptable.
“Unite never takes a backward step in protecting our members
jobs, pay and conditions and the workforce at TfGM has
the union's complete support.”
The workers have rejected an increase of £1,290. They are seeking
an increase that takes into account the cost of living crisis and
reverses the fall in the value of their wages in real terms.
Talks with the company have been inconclusive as it has failed to
include increases for all grades.
Unite regional officer Howard Percival said: “The strike
action will cause serious disruption across public transport
throughout Greater Manchester but TfGM has brought this
dispute on themselves through its poverty pay rates.
“It is in TfGM's hands to resolve this dispute it needs to return
to the negotiating table with a realistic offer that addresses
low pay for all the affected workers.”
Members of Unison are also involved in the dispute.
