Mixed reaction as tram strike enters second day

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

Tram stops in Croydon and Bromley will see no services today as tram drivers walk out over a pay dispute.

But, despite nothing running from Arena Tram Stop in South Norwood, many locals supported the striking drivers.

A handful of people were still turning up at the stop to learn of the two-day strike yesterday afternoon before heading off to find a bus.

There are services running between East Croydon and Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and New Addington, except the first two services from New Addington.

A “limited service” is still running between East Croydon and Wimbledon until 9pm.

Services will return to normal when the strike is over tomorrow morning.

Jeanette Grant, who was walking back from the shops with her grandson, said she backed the strikes.

The 61-year-old said: “The money they get for doing such a big service isn’t paying their bills, let people realise it’s not so easy.”

And Romke Olubode, 30, said she can walk to Beckenham in 30-40 minutes or get a bus if she needs to head there tomorrow.

She said: “With the cost of living, people are striking all the time but nothing happens, which is sad, but we have to do something to take a stand or nothing will get done.

“Obviously it affects people who want to take the trams, but that is just because we are thinking about ourselves, not their livelihood.”

Amy Denman also arrived at the stop hoping get the tram into Croydon.

The 29-year-old said: “At the end of the day there is a cost of living crisis.

“Everyone needs to make ends meet. In order to influence action we need to disrupt people.

“The tram is the most convenient but the bus will probably only take 10 minutes longer.”

But Thomas, 26, who arrived at Arena with his guitar and amp to head into Croydon to sing on the street, wasn’t so sympathetic.

He said: “It sucks. I don’t support it, I just see that sign [that trams are cancelled] and see I’m not going to be in my place in time.”

And he wasn’t the only one who didn’t back the strikes. Shaun Axtell, 35, said he walks most places anyway so wasn’t affected but called the strike “crazy”.

He added: “I don’t know why they are doing it. I think everyone is in the same position these days.”

Drivers from the ASLEF union are in a dispute over a three per cent pay offer from operator FirstGroup, which they call a “real terms pay cut”.

Ninety-nine per cent of members voted in favour of the strike.

Tram drivers have taken to the picket line for the second time, following a previous two day strike at the end of June.

ASLEF organiser Finn Brennan said there was support for Wednesday’s action.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There was great support for our action today with a constant stream of passing vehicles hooting and waving.

“Everyone knows that rising bills means wages have to be increased. It is time that TfL told Tram Operations Ltd who operate the trams on their behalf, to stop playing games and make a fair offer.”

Trish Ashton, TfL’s director of rail and sponsored services, previously called the industrial action “disappointing” and urged Tram Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of FirstGroup and ASLEF to “urgently find a solution”.

A spokesman for Tram Operations Ltd 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 this week and want to find a solution – they should call off these damaging strikes and reconsider our offer.”

Pictured top: ASLEF members on strike this week (Picture: ASLEF)