A MAJOR UK city’s annual Christmas market has been plunged into chaos after tram workers threatened a winter strike.
Since 1999, Manchester has waved in more than 9 million revellers every year during its six-week festive stint in the city centre.
But plans for its 2025 edition are in jeopardy after 320 KeolisAmey Metrolink tram staff slammed their working conditions.
The public transport workers, who are members of Unite, work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester and operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
The strike is projected for late November but no dates have yet been confirmed.
Last year, the tram service recorded a record 45 million journeys.
The famous market is expected to run from November 7 until December 22 this year.
Unite said: “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 doubled down, adding that Unite would be firmly behind the workers.
She said: “Our hard working 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.
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.”
The Sun Online has reached out to Manchester City Council for comment.
