STOP the DROP!

Since 2009, workers at Transport for Greater Manchester have seen our pay drop in real terms, due to inflation, pay freezes and below-inflation pay ‘increases’. At the same time, many of us have seen our work intensify or taken on extra responsibilities to deliver bus franchising.

UNISON and Unite, the unions for TfGM staff, launched the STOP the DROP campaign to turn things around. In 2024, following a short strike, staff won an improved pay deal.

Now it’s time to campaign for a better deal in 2025. Please get involved.

Action

PAY CLAIM 2025

Pay

Increase all pay points by 5% plus RPI inflation (3.6% in January 2025).

Stop using scale points below £15 per hour.

Increase all allowances including first aid, fire
marshals, relocation, standby, callout, Market Factor Supplements, travel, accommodation and subsistence.

In future, allowances to be index-linked to an agreed pay point for each employer.

Time

A 4-day working week with a proportionate reduction in the working week without loss of pay, with pro-rata changes for those working part time or compressed hours.

Travel

A free bus and tram pass for all staff, including their spouse / partner and children.

A salary sacrifice scheme for staff to buy electric vehicles.

Equality

Uphold commitments from the 2024-2025 pay deal, including family-friendly policies, equality pay gaps, and standby/callout arrangements. Satisfactory conclusion of any outstanding related negotiations without delay.

Affordability

According to the most recent statement of TfGM accounts for 2023-4, TfGM made a surplus of £36m, which equates to £32,787 for each of the 1098 employees.

20 staff had remuneration of £100,000 or more including severance payments but not pension contributions.

TfGM had an income of £592m in 2023-4, with just £55.3m spent on wages and salaries (excluding time recharged to capital projects) – just 9.3% of total income. This means that pay rises have a much smaller impact on TfGM’s overall finances than is the case for most organisations, which are more labour-intensive.

TfGM has to stop saving money by taking it from their workers’ pockets. We need a few years where our pay catches up with some of what it has lost to inflation.

We all know that money is tight for local authorities. But employers are always tempted to pass that burden on to staff and service users unless they face pressure. Services which we work hard to deliver shouldn’t be delivered at our expense. When people at the top get so much, don’t tell us there’s no money for the rest of us! We want to see real investment in transport – including in those who deliver it. Transport for Greater Manchester, and Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, can choose to invest in better Transport for Greater Manchester. Of course we need more support from central government too, if we are deliver the improvements in transport we need to tackle the climate emergency and improve lives in Greater Manchester. Management could support service users and staff in campaigning for this. Good public services are good for society.

TfGM staff vote for action and the first strikes are called
TfGM staff in both UNISON and Unite have voted for industrial action. The first strike days have been announced.
TfGM unions ballot members for action over pay
UNISON and Unite, the unions at Transport for Greater Manchester, are both balloting members on industrial action in a dispute over the April 2025 pay claim. Details of the claim and much more can be found on stopthedrop.uk. Ballot papers are being posted out to Unite members on 10 September 2025 and to UNISON members… Read more: TfGM unions ballot members for action over pay
Why a four-day week?
Read more about what a four-day week would mean and the case for it.
What’s the story with TfGM pay?
Depending on your pay point, TfGM pay has fallen between 18% and 46% over the last fifteen years, in real terms.
2025 pay claim submitted
Key points in the claim include an increase to all pay points of 5% plus inflation, a reduction in hours without loss of pay to enable a four-day week, and improvements to staff travel.
Getting family friendlier
Since the strikes in December 2024 TfGM has been working with UNISON and Unite on new family friendly policies. The details are still being finalised, but the proposed improvements are dramatic and represent a real achievement by all those involved. Further policies (neonatal, baby loss, fertility treatment and shared leave) are expected to be discussed,… Read more: Getting family friendlier
Pay offer accepted
Union members at TfGM voted to accept the latest pay offer by 62.5%.
Union members’ ballot on latest offer
Voting starts on ‘improved and final’ offer, while industrial action is suspended.
Industrial Action suspended
Following an improved offer, which TfGM describes as ‘full and final’, both unions suspended all industrial action (strikes and Action Short of Strike) up to and including the strikes planned on Monday 23 December 2024. The unions will ballot members on the new offer. Further details will be sent to members as soon as practicable.
TfGM strike day #2 and talks
Talks this afternoon. New offer expected. Action currently going ahead but please check this site if you are due to work this weekend.
TfGM strike day #1
The UNISON and Unite strike at TfGM got off to a strong start today.
TfGM is not family friendly enough
Rights for new parents are extremely poor and outdated, with a big impact on staff starting families.
Offer rejected, action starts on Thursday
UNISON and Unite polled members today and a resounding 76% voted to reject TfGM’s latest offer without a ballot and go ahead with industrial action from Thursday 12 December. You can see details of the strikes, Action Short Of Strike, pickets and protests on stopthedrop.uk/action. TfGM is likely to assess the participation in and impact… Read more: Offer rejected, action starts on Thursday
Update following joint members’ meeting
UNISON and Unite members at TfGM want reps to reject the offer now, rather than delaying negotiations by going through a ballot.
Industrial action called
UNISON and Unite have both given notice to TfGM of industrial action starting on 12 December 2024.
Update on pay dispute
Talks ongoing, with some progress.
Industrial action ballot results
Members of both UNISON and Unite at TfGM have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.
Pay calculator and ballot FAQs
UNISON and Unite have published Frequently Asked Questions about the ballot. Check your pay with UNISON’s calculator.
Response to senior management ‘pay negotiations update’
Misleading information is voter suppression. Use your vote to make all votes count.
Pay strike ballots about to open
Ballot papers are being posted out to Unite and UNISON members at TfGM on 24 and 25 October respectively.
Get ballot-ready!
Union members voted by a large majority to reject the pay offer and that they were prepared to take sustained action in pursuit of a better offer. The latest Stop the Drop flier explains what you need to do now, whether you are a member or not. Click the image to read more.
2024 pay offer REJECTED
Union members rejected the pay offer by a large majority. Preparations for statutory industrial action ballots have begun.
Pay update 6 June 2024
Talks but still no pay offer from our employers. Unions set a deadline.
But aren’t prices falling now?
Inflation has come down, but prices are still rising. Other workers are winning above inflation pay rises.
Pay update 8 May 2024
Update following the first negotiating meeting on 18 April.
Timeline
It can be hard to keep track of everything going on – this page shows the timeline of the 2024 pay negotiations process and will be updated.
A shorter working week would offset the loss of wellbeing time
A Project Manager explains the importance of time off when caring for loved ones and dealing with bereavement.
37 hours is too long
A new starter at TfGM, who has chosen to remain anonymous, describes the impact of a 37-hour week on them.
Paternity leave no better than at Wetherspoons
Assistant Project Manager Recardo Nguty explains how his paternity leave at TfGM was identical to his experience at Wetherspoons.
Make low pay go away
Many TfGM staff at band 5 and below are paid less than £15 an hour, while outsourced staff aren’t even guaranteed £12 an hour.
What are pay gaps and why do they matter?
What are pay gaps, what causes them, and what should TfGM be doing?
What are standby allowances?
Standby rates are so low, not having been updated for many years, that some managers can’t find volunteers to work standby.
How does pay work at TfGM?
What is the process, and what are job evaluation, pay bands, points and rates?
How has TfGM pay dropped?
The value of TfGM pay has dropped over time. With inflation lower now, TfGM can STOP the DROP with an above-inflation pay increase.