Croydon tram strike live: Updates as severe travel disruption takes place across South London due to fresh rail strikes

Why tram employees are hanging

ASLEF members on the Croydon Tramlink will strike on Tuesday and Wednesday in a dispute over pay.

FirstGroup, the corporate which operates Tramlink on behalf of Transport for London, has provided tram drivers a 3 per cent pay rise regardless of the RPI fee of inflation working at over 11 per cent.

Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s full-time organiser on Croydon Tramlink and London Underground, says: “This is able to imply an actual phrases wage lower for folks already struggling to cope with rising gasoline, power and meals payments.

“Our members do a troublesome and demanding job, working around the clock shifts over 364 days of the 12 months. They deserve a good pay settlement.

“FirstGroup noticed its income soar final 12 months. It boasts of returning £500 million to shareholders whereas holding staff’ wages down.

“And final 12 months FirstGroup paid its chief govt Matthew Gregory £840,00 in pay and perks.

“Croydon Tram Operations Ltd is funded by Transport for London. However the firm prefers to make use of the cash it will get from TfL to funnel money to shareholders, and rich executives, slightly than pay its employees a good wage.

“The Mayor of London and the board of TfL ought to be intervening to cease this abuse and make Tramlink deal with its employees pretty.”