Staff on Nottingham Express Transit could go on strike later this year after the GMB Union called a ballot over the latest pay offer which they say is a real terms pay cut. Its likely that any strike action will come into effect around the time of the Goose Fair, one of the busiest times of the year on the trams.
Its reported that the pay offer is between 6.75% and 9% (lower paid staff receiving the higher pay increase) but the union have rejected this offer and have said that tram workers will struggle to live in the city on the current wages offered.
The call for strikes comes on the back of negotiations with Nottingham Trams Limited saying they were disappointed at the union’s call for strikes. Its been known for some time that the reduction in passengers on the tram network has made a hit on the finances of the tram network with campaigning having taken place looking for more central government support, especially in the wake of the £2 single bus fare funding which is not extended to the trams.
The ballot results are expected in late August with any strike action possible within two weeks of that. The Goose Fair takes place at the start of October.