Tram staff to walk out in pay row

Annual income from the trams is set to fall for the first time

Drivers and conductors on Nottingham trams have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a row over a pay freeze.

The GMB union had called for a 5% pay increase but operators Nottingham Tram Consortium (NTC) refused because it faces a drop in its annual income.

The union said 89.8% of its 134 members had voted in a favour of a walkout.

Tram staff will begin strike action from 0010 BST on Monday 27 July until 0525 BST on Tuesday 28 July.

NTC had said it was unable to make a new pay offer because its income is linked to the May Retail Prices Index, a negative figure, meaning that for the first time its annual income would fall.

Tram bosses have refused to comment on the planned strike until they have been officially notified by the union.

Tim Clements, from the GMB, said: "We're not looking to have draconian pay cuts where they take away sick pay, have a longer working week - we've only just reduced the working week from the last pay rise.

"It's only been in six months and now they're trying to take it away from us."