Tram strikes off

The strikes planned in the Sheffield supertram pay dispute have been suspended, as the 200 drivers and conductors vote on a revised pay offer.

Unite will be recommending acceptance of the three year pay deal which was agreed after talks yesterday (August 2) with South Yorkshire Supertram Ltd under the auspices of the conciliation service Acas.

Unite’s members will be voting on the deal next week and the result should be known by close of play on Friday, August 10. Details of the package won’t be revealed until after the workers have considered the proposals.

The eight days of strike action, due to start on August 18, have been suspended.

“We had constructive talks with the company yesterday under the auspices of Acas,” said Unite regional coordinating officer Steve Clark. “We reached an agreement on a three year pay deal which we are recommending our members accept. As a result, the planned strike action has been suspended.

“We won’t be commenting on the details of the offer until our members have had an opportunity to consider and vote on them next week.

“I would like to thank our members for the solidarity they have shown during this period which has greatly contributed to us reaching this stage.”