The GMB Union have confirmed that they will be instructing their members to walk out on Tuesday 23rd November as the dispute over pay shows no signs of being settled. The first strike on Saturday 6th November saw no services run at all on the network with the shutdown starting the previous evening from around 2200 to ensure everything was back in the depot by the midnight start of the industrial action.
An offer of 3% for 2020 (backdated and paid immediately) and 3% (or RPI, whichever is the highest) was rejected by union members and although the operators of Nottingham Express Transit have said they remain open for talks it would appear these have either not happened or no improved offer has been made.
As a result of this impasse, GMB Union have confirmed their members will strike again on Tuesday 23rd November.
In a statement a GMB spokesperson said: “It’s deeply disappointing that it’s come to this, as this strike was completely avoidable. If company top brass had reached out with a fair pay offer for these key workers from the beginning, no strike action would have been necessary and this disruption could have been avoided. We remain open to fair offers from Nottingham Trams Limited (NTL), and hope they act before our members are forced into taking further action to protect their rights at work. Mid-week disruption on the network is completely avoidable and it’s time for NTL to act. Nottingham’s tram workers are the life blood of the city, keeping businesses, families and working people moving. It’s time they got the reward and recognition they deserve from company top brass. Public support from Nottingham residents has been overwhelming and we would like to put on record out thanks to them on behalf of our members”.
There will be major disruption across the network if the strike action goes ahead and we’ll update when confirmed details are released.