How two week Metro engineer strike starting Monday will impact services in Newcastle and across Tyneside

Engineers will walk out for two weeks having already stopped working overtime in October as Unite back strikes.

More than 50 Tyne and Wear Metro engineers are set to walk out on strike next week with demands for fairer pay.

Trade Union Unite has demanded a "decent rise" from the engineers employed by Stadler Rail Service Ltd, stating that the 4% pay office is a "real terms pay cut". Workers will strike from Monday, November 14 until Monday, November 28, which more dates in the pipeline if the dispute is not resolved. Workers also began an overtime ban on Saturday, October 15.

Unite cite a real rate of inflation, RPI, at 12.6% and Stadler profits of £119 million as reasoning for why pay rises are simply not enough and expect the strikes to impact Engineers to walk-out over ‘miserable’ pay rise despite huge profits">Metro services.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Stadler brings in huge profits but expects our members to take a pay cut during a cost of living crisis. The company can afford to pay a decent rise and that’s exactly what they should do. Stadlers’ Metro workforce will have Unite’s total backing as they strike for a fair deal.”

Engineers have been offered a one-off payment of £1,000 by Stadler to help with the cost of living crisis, but the union has said that amount is not enough.

Unite regional coordinating officer Suzanne Reid said: “Any disruption to passengers is entirely the fault of Stadler, which can well afford to table a reasonable pay offer but is refusing to do so. The company must return to the negotiating table with an offer our members can accept.”