Croydon, Wimbledon, Beckenham, and Addington trams will be especially affected
(Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Archive)Tram services will face severe disruptions in September, due to a strike from Aslef (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen) union members over pay disputes.
Aslef members are set to strike on September 12, following earlier strikes in June and July, which will likely result in severe disruption on the service.
Any trams that do run will be busier than usual. Buses in Croydon, Wimbledon, Beckenham, and Addington are also expected to be especially busy.
So, when are the strikes and why are the drivers striking?
Why is Aslef striking?
Tram drivers who are employed by FirstGroup (which operates Tramlink) are going on strike due to the fact they’re being offered a 3% pay rise, while RPI (Retail Price Index)
inflation rates are more than 12 per cent, with Aslef saying this equates to a wage cut.
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on Tramlink, said: “There has been no contact from Tramlink management and no new offer since our last strike in the middle of July.
“It seems FirstGroup, which operates the tram system on behalf of TfL, doesn’t care about either the welfare of their staff or the impact on their passengers of more disruption.
“Their offer means a huge wage cut for staff, who face being unable to heat their homes and pay their bills this winter. We are having to strike again because management are not prepared to make anything like a fair offer that reflects the real cost of living in this country.”
He added: “FirstGroup are prioritising the pay and perks of their bosses above a fair deal for staff. Staff on Tramlink are absolutely right to refuse to accept a pay cut so that fat cats can get even fatter.
“We will be calling on local political leaders to join us on the picket line to show support for workers fighting for a fair deal to help them cope with the cost-of-living crisis.”
In June, Brennan said in a statement: “Our members do a difficult and demanding job, working round-the-clock shifts over 364 days of the year. They deserve a fair pay settlement.
“FirstGroup saw its profits soar last year. It boasts of returning £500 million to shareholders while holding workers’ wages down. And, last year, FirstGroup paid its chief executive, Matthew Gregory, £840,000 in pay and perks.
“Croydon Tram Operations Ltd is funded by Transport for London. But the company prefers to use the money it gets from TfL to funnel cash to shareholders, and wealthy executives, rather than pay its staff a fair wage.
“The Mayor of London and the board of TfL should be intervening to stop this abuse and make Tramlink treat its staff fairly.”
What does TfL think about the strike action?
In June, TfL said it was unhappy with the decision to strike. At the time Trish Ashton, TfL Director of Rail and Sponsored Services, said: “We are disappointed that Aslef have decided to take industrial action on the tram network and urge them to meet with Tram Operations Ltd, the operator, to try and resolve this matter and avoid disruption to our customers.”
