Metrolink workers will strike after rejecting what has been described as a "woeful" pay offer and "toxic" pay structure.

Drivers, engineers, business support and customer service staff will be taking strike action from Thursday, July 25 to Saturday, July 27.

The dates will affect visitors to Peter Kay’s stand-up comedy, UFC 304 and Manchester’s City Centre Day.

It is estimated that nearly 200,000 people will visit Manchester in the three-day strike period.

Unite members want guarantees of above-inflation rises over the next three years due to accepting less than inflation (RPI) last year and a reduction in the pay progression scales within the drivers and customer service roles.

The staff said they are "furious" at the pay structure - which has been labelled "toxic" - within the driving department with new employees being made to wait up to four years to reach the top of their pay scale, despite holding the same responsibilities and roles.

Unite manage the Metrolink workers' pay negotiations and have more than 600 members within the company.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It's reprehensible how companies worth billions like Keolis and Amey can value their workers so poorly while lining the pockets of their shareholders.

"This is intolerable and our members will not accept it.

"Unite’s commitment to protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of its members is absolute and our Metrolink workers will have the union’s total support throughout this dispute."

Metrolink is a joint venture of Keolis-Amey and runs on a contract from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Unite said that both Keolis and Amey make billions of pounds in revenue each year.

Unite regional officer Colin Hayden added: "This dispute is entirely the making of Metrolink and their parent companies.

"They can easily afford to pay our members a decent salary after years of real terms pay cuts.

“Our members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action which shows the level of anger and frustration.

"I urge Metrolink, their parent companies and TfGM to come back with an improved offer rather than continue to demonstrate how little they value their own staff and the communities of Greater Manchester with the current woeful pay offer.”

In the statement of accounts for the year 2022/23, Metrolink reported a gross income of more than £83.7m.

Keolis-Amey has been approached for comment.