Tyne and Wear Metro staff are taking strike action today, 7 June, in a dispute over pay.
They are protesting against contractor DB Regio Tyne and Wear’s (DBTW) decision that contract pay will be decided by the average weekly earnings (AWE) rather than the higher retail prices index (RPI). DB Regio has offered a pay rise of 2.1%.
Employees who are members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) and Unite rejected the offer and voted in favour of the strike action.
A statement from DBTW said it had held talks with unions, but an agreement to call off the strike had not been reached after the improved pay offer was rejected by the unions.
Bob Crow, general secretary at RMT, said: “It is outrageous that workers must be expected to accept pay cuts for an economic crisis they did not create.
“Tyne and Wear Metro workers have delivered the strongest possible mandate for action in three separate ballots and all we are seeking is pay justice and an end to poverty pay.”
The strike action will last for 24 hours, until 23:59 on 7 June.
Read more about strike action over pay disputes