Commuters in the West Midlands are facing yet more disruption after tram workers announced more than seven weeks of strike action. The Unite trade union has revealed that staff on the West Midlands Metro will begin industrial action on Saturday October 15 and have earmarked a further 52 days for potential strikes running into next year (see full list below).
The union represents more than 175 employees workers on the West Midlands Metro and said they returned a 'Yes' vote of 86 per cent on an 84 per cent turnout. The action centres on a row over pay.
Workers are seeking a minimum rate of £27,000 for tram drivers and customer representatives, up from their current pay of £21,939, and a £5,000 increase for all other grades which can start at £21,537.
Unite said that, despite negotiations, West Midlands Metro had refused to make an offer which met their expectations, saying the metro had offered £25,250 to drivers and customer representatives and 5.25 per cent to all other grades.
The tram network, which is undergoing extensions across the region including a recently opened section on Broad Street in Birmingham, has been in and out of action repeatedly over the past year or so due to maintenance issues with the trains themselves.
This strike action is the latest in a summer of disruption including postal and rail workers, the latest of which will affect railway services across the UK from this weekend.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is disgraceful that despite our members undertaking extremely demanding and responsible jobs and ensuring that Birmingham and the Black Country keeps moving, they are paid poverty wages.
"Unite always fights tooth and nail for its members as it ensures that their jobs, pay and conditions are defended and enhanced. Our members at West Midlands Metro will receive the union's unswerving support."
A statement from West Midlands Metro said: "Naturally, we are disappointed at the ballot result and the union's decision to escalate the dispute, despite our extensive efforts to reach an amicable agreement. Unfortunately, Unite has also declined to continue negotiations through the conciliation service ACAS and informed us of dates on which they intend to undertake industrial action.
"However, a fair pay offer, including an increase of more than 15 per cent - or more than £3,300 a year - for tram crew with a full year's service, remains on the table.
"These proposals also include an increase for tram crew in their first year who are still receiving training, bringing these salaries into line with those on similar-sized tram systems in other UK cities. Other colleagues across the network will also receive a significant pay rise.
"This fair and comprehensive package was put forward following a difficult couple of years for the network, during which we have supported our colleagues through the pandemic and more recent service suspensions that were beyond our control. These challenges have inevitably had an impact on revenues and we continue to operate with financial support from West Midlands Combined Authority.
"As a result, the proposals, which were initially accepted by Unite, represent our best offer in the current circumstances. Clearly, any industrial action risks impacting on the network's post-pandemic recovery as well as causing unnecessary disruption for customers."
The proposed strike days are:
- October: 15, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 29 and 31
- November: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 and 30
- December: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31
- January: 1, 2 and 5
