TYNE AND WEAR

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2020 :: RMTnews 6 R MT drivers and skilled maintainers on the Tyne and Wear Metro took 48-hour strike action just before Christmas and not a single train moved across the whole combine. As a result of the action a new and improved offer has been put forward to provide flexibility for the introduction of the new rolling stock whilst seeing a fair increase in salary levels and a reduction in the working week for traincrew grades. This offer has now been put out to a referendum. Labour Mayor for the North of the Tyne Jamie Driscoll joined picket lines along with RMT regional organisers MIcky Thompson, Stan Herschel and Craig Johnston. Jamie Driscoll met with RMT members on the picket lines about the causes of the disputes and potential ways out of the breakdown in industrial relations. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that members were standing rock solid and the wholesale shutdown of services was entirely due to Nexus who had made no effort to resolve the dispute until faced with industrial action. Nexus also withdrew travel passes that were issued to Churchill cleaners. However, the union immediately raised this issue with the company and the passes have been reinstated enabling free and unrestricted travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro system. RMT Tyne & Wear Metro drivers and RO Micky Thompson and RRO Stan Herschel in attendance on picket line at South Gosforth station, Newcastle. TYNE AND WEAR METRO STRIKE ROCK SOLID