Rail operator Northern gives managers £1,800 bonus for keeping region's trains running

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The North of England's biggest train operator has angered unions by handing its managers £1,800 bonuses while refusing to give drivers a pay rise.

Publicly-owned Northern Trains says it has made the extra payment "in recognition of the significant contributions made in managing contingency planning and delivery of our business plan". Read more: Train firm has to ask commuters to stop watching 'explicit content' in their seats But the move - which comes amid an ongoing industrial dispute which has seen local services decimated on strike days - has sparked anger among workers who say they have not had their pay increased since 2019.

An internal message by a senior manager - and seen by The Northern Agenda politics newsletter - says the payment recognises the "superb efforts" of frontline managers who have been "relentless, constantly scrutinised, working with ambiguity and keeping us safe and compliant".

Staff are also angry after learning that managers at Northern have been paid £250 a day extra to help keep trains running on strike days.