Metro strike to hit busiest weekend

The RMT union has informed Nexus of strike action by train crew on the Tyne and Wear Metro on Friday and Saturday, December 20 and 21.

The union has warned that if this action goes ahead it is highly likely that there will be no Metro services, across the entire Metro system, on those two days.

Nexus, the public body which own sand manages Metro, has urged the union to call off the strike and to enter further negotiations and warned that a strike would cause massive disruption for tens of thousands of passengers.

The RMT has given official notification of the strike action after rejecting a 15% increase in pay and improved roster ing arrangements.

The strike is highly likely to mean that no Metro services will be running system-wide for two full days, December 20-21.

The days on which the R MT has chosen to take strike action are two of the busiest days of the year for the area, in which hundreds of local businesses, shoppers and revellers prepare for Christmas, and people travel from and to the area in large numbers to visit family and friends as well as there being a Newcastle United home game.

Metro Services Director, Chris Carson, said: “This is totally unjustified strike action by the RMT union.

“It is going to be hugely disruptive for the tens of thousands of working people and local businesses who rely on its services.

“This action shows a callous disregard for the people who rely on the Metro everyday, and all the more so as Christmas approaches .“We have been trying hard to persuade the RMT to agree to a deal for our train crew, including a 15 percent pay increase and improved rostering arrangements.”