Stagecoach Supertram have confirmed that they have made an improved pay offer to drivers and conductors in a bid to bring to an end the dispute with two strike dates confirmed earlier this week. Currently no Supertram services are due to run on Monday 9th and Thursday 12th July but it is hoped that this new offer may curtail this planned action.
A new three year deal has been offered which would see a 4.4% rise for drivers and 5.5% increase for conductors across the first two years and an increase in line with inflation in year three. The package would also see a shorter working week along with enhanced overtime rates. With the shorter working week the effective increases in hourly rates over the first two years equates to 6.8% for conductors and 5.8% for drivers.
The original offer would have seen a 26p an hour increase for the first two years (working out at roughly 2.2% for drivers and 2.% for conductors in year one) but this was rejected as not being acceptable by those union members who voted.
Tim Bilby, Stagecoach Supertram Managing Director, said: “We have worked very hard in today’s talks to put together an improved offer for our employees. We’ve sought to balance our ability to meet the aspirations of the union, with ensuring we have a sustainable business with secure jobs that continues to offer high quality, good value travel to our customers. We are pleased that employees are being given an opportunity to vote on the new offer, and we would urge them to accept a deal which is significantly above pay settlements elsewhere in the economy. At the same time, we must be clear that any strike action would not only be disruptive for Sheffield’s communities and economy, but would also add to our costs and reduce the money available to fund any pay deal.”
The new offer is to be put to Unite members in a new ballot later this week and comes after extensive negotiations between the union and Supertram management.
If the union members reject this latest deal there will be no trams at all running on Monday 9th and Thursday 12th July with a tram replacement bus service running from 0700 to 1900 only. These would run every 10 minutes between Meadowhall and Middlewood and from Halfway to the City Centre.