Manchester Christmas market tram chaos as drivers balloted on strikes

Commuters could face major disruption which could interrupt festive travel in Greater Manchester next month as almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.

The drivers, members of Unite, work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester. They operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester. 

Currently, the drivers’ shift patterns mean they have to 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. 

Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments. This is causing safety concerns around fatigue, with drivers concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks. 

After raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is no funding available to support any meaningful improvements to working patterns. 

Instead, adding insult to injury management has asked drivers to start work earlier, adding to increased dangers of fatigue. 

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: "Our hardworking members at Metrolink do a vital job – but fatigue is putting themselves and the public at risk. 

“Management can’t sweep this key safety issue under the carpet and they must come back to the table with workable solutions. Metrolink workers will have Unite’s full support throughout this dispute.” 

The ballot closes on November 11. Strikes could begin in late November, causing widespread tram cancellations and delays in Greater Manchester during the busy festive shopping period.

There will also be disruption to services that go to and from Manchester's world-famous Christmas markets, which start next month and attract millions of visitors each year to the city. 

The KeolisAmey Metrolink tram system is the largest in the UK. Last year, it handled a record 45 million journeys, with over four million trips taking place in each of May, October, November, and December. 

It is part of Greater Manchester’s integrated transport network the Bee Network. 

Unite regional officer Colin Hayden said: "Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously. 

“It is dangerous for fatigued workers to be driving trams and they should not be put in this situation. We are demanding that Metrolink and Transport for Greater Manchester work with Unite to find a solution to this problem to avoid industrial action.”