Tyne and Wear Metro staff vote to strike

Metro bosses are assessing the implications of the strike vote

Tyne and Wear Metro passengers face disruptions after members of the RMT union voted to strike along with other public sector workers on 30 November.

The union said members on the light rail network, employed by DB Regio and Nexus, voted 4-1 for strike action.

More than two million public sector workers are set to strike during a TUC day of action over changes to pensions.

Nexus said it hoped to be able to tell passengers which services would be affected by the end of the week.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Only this morning we learn that top bosses' pay has gone through the roof, opening up a gap between rich and poor not seen since Victorian times.

"Our members on Tyne and Wear Metro have shown that they are not going to sit back and take this outrageous attempt to consign them to a life of poverty in their old age."

A Nexus spokesman said: "We will be able to tell passengers clearly by the end of this week what service will be available on Metro and the Shields Ferry in the event of a public sector strike going ahead on 30 November.

"Nexus is still waiting to hear the RMT union's plans following the result of its strike ballot, so it is too early to say definitely what the impact will be.

"If a strike takes place action by other unions means we can already say there will be only a small number of operators at North East Traveline, and only a core number of Travelshops will open.

"Customers are best advised to use these services on alternative dates if they can avoid 30 November.

"Commercial bus services are not affected by the action and will run as normal, though there will be limited Nexus staff at city centre bus stations."