Overview
- Around 320 tram drivers will strike on December 19, 20 and 31 over working patterns and rest breaks.
- Unite says current rotas create unsafe fatigue, citing 450 hours over 12 weeks and long runs of consecutive working days.
- KeolisAmey Metrolink and TfGM say their proposal improves shift patterns from January 2026, adds rest days in 2026 and phases recruitment over two years.
- The operator says current rostering aligns with the rail regulator’s fatigue‑management guidance and averages 37.5 working hours per week.
- The first two strike days coincide with planned Bee Network bus action and fall on busy event dates including a Manchester City home match, concerts and the city’s New Year fireworks.