
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.
PAY CLAIM 2024

Pay
A pay increase of £3000 or 10%, whichever is the greater.
At least £15 an hour by the end of March 2026.
Living Wage Foundation accreditation for TfGM, so subcontractors pay the real Living Wage when their contracts come up for renewal.
Increase allowances, such as for those working on call, which have been frozen for many years.

Equality
Update TfGM’s antiquated policies so new parents get decent leave and decent pay while they are on it.
Publish the pay gaps for gender, ethnicity and disability. Work with the unions to take action to close them.
It is very concerning that TfGM’s gender median pay gap has increased from 2.9% to 5.5% in the last year. So far, TfGM has not published its pay gaps for ethnicity and disability.

Time
A reduction to 36 hours a week without loss of pay.
Many employers are moving to a four-day working week and finding that the quality of work and hourly productivity increases. With work intensifying and declining public services putting more burden on workers from a ‘second shift’ looking after young, sick, disabled or old family members. It is time for the next step to reduce the working week.
Affordability

As a rough estimate, £3000 for 1000 workers would cost £3m, just 0.6% of TfGM’s annual expenditure of £443m according to the most recent (2022-23) statement of TfGM accounts. TfGM has to stop saving money by taking it from their workers’ pockets. Carrying on with falling pay simply isn’t affordable for TfGM staff.
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. Our Chief Operating Officer’s remuneration was £236,971 in 2022-3, so 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. If there’s enough money for defective PPE, there’s enough for good public services.
- Pay offer acceptedUnion members at TfGM voted to accept the latest pay offer by 62.5%.
- Union members’ ballot on latest offerVoting starts on ‘improved and final’ offer, while industrial action is suspended.
- Industrial Action suspendedFollowing 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 talksTalks 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 #1The UNISON and Unite strike at TfGM got off to a strong start today.
- TfGM is not family friendly enoughRights for new parents are extremely poor and outdated, with a big impact on staff starting families.
- Offer rejected, action starts on ThursdayUNISON 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’ meetingUNISON and Unite members at TfGM want reps to reject the offer now, rather than delaying negotiations by going through a ballot.
- Industrial action calledUNISON and Unite have both given notice to TfGM of industrial action starting on 12 December 2024.
- Update on pay disputeTalks ongoing, with some progress.
- Industrial action ballot resultsMembers of both UNISON and Unite at TfGM have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.
- Pay calculator and ballot FAQsUNISON 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 openBallot 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 REJECTEDUnion members rejected the pay offer by a large majority. Preparations for statutory industrial action ballots have begun.
- Pay update 6 June 2024Talks 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 2024Update following the first negotiating meeting on 18 April.
- TimelineIt 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 timeA Project Manager explains the importance of time off when caring for loved ones and dealing with bereavement.
- 37 hours is too longA 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 WetherspoonsAssistant Project Manager Recardo Nguty explains how his paternity leave at TfGM was identical to his experience at Wetherspoons.
- Make low pay go awayMany 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.