
25 January 2018
RMT Press Office:
RMT to ballot for action on Tyne and Wear Metro over Government pay cap
Rail union RMT confirmed today that it will be balloting NEMOL members on Tyne and Wear Metro for both strike action and action short of a strike over the imposition of the Government’s 1% pay cap.
The Tyne and Wear NEMOL workforce are classed as local government employees and are therefore caught in the trap of the Government-imposed pay cap. They have already rejected the 1% on offer in a referendum ballot and as the employer, NEMOL, has refused to move RMT has now declared a formal dispute and preparations are underway for a ballot. The timetable will be announced in due course.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“We have listened intently and considered the views of our NEMOL membership, who through democratic channels have made their position abundantly clear that they are prepared to fight for pay justice irrespective of being caught up in the cross-hairs of the Government’s 1% pay cap.
“With inflation running at 4% our members should not be forced through centrally imposed austerity measures to take a hit on their standards of living just to bail out a Government which seems to have plenty of cash available when it comes to looking after mates in the private train companies and beyond.
“Preparations for the ballot are underway and RMT remains available for talks.”
ENDS