Unions have agreed to suspend strikes by hundreds of public transport workers in Greater Manchester after what they said was a “very encouraging” new pay offer.
About 500 members of Unite and Unison working for Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) walked out on 12 and 13 December as part of a pay row.
Further strikes planned for Sunday and Monday have now been called off as members vote on a new wage offer made during talks with TFGM and the mayor Andy Burnham on Friday.
UNISON regional organiser Kevin Dolan said the latest proposal was an improvement and helped address concerns about “on-call payments and family friendly policies”.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the new offer also includes a salary rise of between 7.33 and 8.9 per cent for the lowest-paid TfGM workers.
Members of both unions, which negotiate under a collective bargaining agreement, had rejected an offer worth an average of 3.1 per cent for all staff.
A statement from the two unions said the new deal had been put to members in a ballot without a recommendation to accept or reject.
The result is set to be announced on Monday, and if the offer is accepted, all industrial action will stop, he said.
However, if the deal is rejected, industrial action short of strikes, including work-to-rule and a ban on overtime working, will resume on Christmas Eve, the unions added.
TFGM managing director Steve Warrener said the operator was hopeful an agreement would be reached and further action avoided.
