More than 50 Tyne and Wear Metro engineers employed by Stadler Rail Service will strike in for two weeks in November after a 4% pay offer was rejected.
Members of Unite announced today (Friday, 4 November) that the strike will take place from 14 November until 28 November, with more strikes set to be scheduled if the dispute is not resolved. The workers also began an overtime ban on 15 October.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Stadler brings in huge profits but expects our members to take a pay cut during a cost-of-living crisis.
“The company can afford to pay a decent rise and that’s exactly what they should do. Stadlers’ Metro workforce will have Unite’s total backing as they strike for a fair deal.”
In October 2020, Stadler was awarded a £300 million contract to build 42 new Metro trains, rebuild the Gosforth depot and maintain the Nexus Tyne and Wear train stock for 35 years.
The company reported profits of £119 million in 2021 as well as record figures for order intake, order backlog and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT). Workers were offered a 4% pay increase and a one-off payment of £1,000, but the union says that basic pay has to rise beyond what is on the table.
Unite regional coordinating officer Suzanne Reid said: “Any disruption to passengers is entirely the fault of Stadler, which can well afford to table a reasonable pay offer but is refusing to do so.
“The company must return to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.”
The industrial action will impact services on the Metro, which is the UK’s busiest light rail system outside of London.
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