Croydon tram workers stage two-day strike over pay offer

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

Commuters face travel chaos today and tomorrow as tram workers kick off another two-day strike over pay.

Drivers on the London Tram network in Croydon are in a dispute over a three per cent pay offer, which they call a “real terms pay cut”.

Union members rejected the three per cent pay rise offered by operator FirstGroup and voted almost unanimously in favour of the strike.

There will be no tram services running between East Croydon and Beckenham Junction, or Elmers End and New Addington, except the first two services from New Addington which leave at 4.56am and 5.11am.

A limited service is expected to operate between East Croydon and Wimbledon until 9pm.

Those wishing to travel today and tomorrow have been told to allow more time for their journeys.

Transport for London (TfL) has also advised customers to use alternative routes and to walk and cycle where possible.

There will be no tram services after 9pm, so customers should complete their tram journeys by 8pm.

Buses in Croydon, Wimbledon, Addington and Beckenham are expected to be busier than usual.

It is expected that services will run as normal on Friday morning.

Croydon Tramlink drivers also walked out on June 28 to 29.

ASLEF organiser Finn Brennan said the three per cent pay offer “would mean a real terms wage cut for people already struggling to deal with rising fuel, energy and food bills”.

He said: “Our members do a difficult and demanding job, working round-the-clock shifts over 364 days of the year. They deserve a fair pay settlement.”

Trish Ashton, TfL’s director of rail and sponsored services, said: “It is disappointing this industrial action is going ahead.

“We urge Tram Operations Ltd and ASLEF to urgently find a solution to avoid disruption to customers.

“All customers travelling on Wednesday and Thursday are advised to check before they make their journeys.”

A Tram Operations Ltd spokeswoman said: “It’s hard to understand how Aslef can justify going out on strike, having benefited from a change in terms equivalent to a five per cent plus rise only in November.

“This action will disrupt Croydon residents and businesses needlessly, when the local economy is still recovering from the pandemic. 

“We met with Aslef again yesterday and want to find a solution – they should call off these damaging strikes and reconsider our offer.”

Pictured top: A tram outside East Croydon railway station (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/Peter Trimming)