Trams workers set to strike over driver fatigue

Around 320 tram drivers, employed by Bee Network private operator Metrolink Manchester, are set to strike on 19, 20 and 31 December after rejecting the company’s proposals to tackle driver fatigue.

The dispute stems from concern over inadequate working patterns, rest breaks and driver fatigue. According to Unite the Union, Metrolink drivers’ shift patterns mean they work 250 hours over a 12-week period, and have the worst driving conditions of all UK light rail networks.

The drivers involved in the dispute with Metrolink work at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots. Trams on all routes across Greater Manchester are operated from these depots, consequently the planned industrial action is set to cause major disruption over the Christmas period.

The first two days of strike action coincide with the last Friday and Saturday before Christmas, some of the busiest days of the year for travel and shopping. New Years events such as the St Peter’s Square firework display, which attracts 20,000 spectators per year, will be affected as well as Manchester City vs West Ham and a Jools Holland concert.

Strikes originally scheduled for 5 to 7 December were postponed while Unite balloted their members on a Metrolink proposal for tackling driver fatigue. The proposals reportedly included a commitment to changing rotas and including extra rest days for drivers. However, Metrolink have said the changes could take up to two years to implement and Unite claim that the the recruitment of 60 new drivers would be required.

Drivers overwhelmingly voted to reject Metrolink’s proposals, opting for escalation of strike action to go ahead.

According to Unite general secretary Sharon Graham: “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.”

Currently some drivers work 50 hours on followed by just two days off. Unite reports that drivers are experiencing physical and mental health issues such as exhaustion, cold and flu-like symptoms and stress due to the way that their rotas are structured. 

The Bee Network has experienced continuous periods of industrial action across its services since September, with major disruption leading to workers and unions winning significant pay deals. Metrolink bosses expressed the desire to “move ahead, and avoid strike action that impacts [their] customers.”