Tyne and Wear Metro staff to strike on Coldplay and Springsteen concert days
Workers on the Tyne and Wear Metro are to go on strike in three separate disputes over pay and other issues.
The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport has announced 24-hour walkouts on 7 June and 21 June, while cleaners will strike on 10 June from 22:30 BST for 48 hours. The union said talks with operating company DB Regio Tyne and Wear Ltd (DBTW) failed to resolve a pay row. A spokeswoman for DBTW said it had agreed arrangements for further talks. The union also said cleaners were facing a wage freeze. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "DB Regio members have given a resounding 'no' to attacks on pay and conditions. "They have delivered the strongest possible mandate for action in three separate ballots and we know that the action will prove to be rock solid." In a statement, DBTW said: "We are in discussions with Aslef and the other trades unions and have agreed arrangements for further talks in the current pay dispute. "We want to resolve this matter quickly without disruption. We will provide a further update on Friday 1 June confirming the train services we plan to operate on Thursday 7 June." Thousands of rock music fans are due to visit the Stadium of Light on 7 June and 21 June as it is due to play host to Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen concerts. A spokesman for Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said: "We urge unions and DBTW, which operates Metro trains and stations under contract to us, to continue talks. "Strike action around the Stadium of Light concerts would have an impact on struggling local businesses, people's livelihoods and the image of our region on days when we should be welcoming thousands of visitors from across the UK."