Goose Fair Stall owner 'cried all night' after finding out about Nottingham tram strike
A stall owner whose family has been trading at Goose Fair for generations was left in tears following the tram industrial action announcement. Astria Kefford, who owns a burger stall located near the Forest tram stop, says she has been crying "all night", fearing she might not even make her rent.
The owner explained that due to the location of her business, most of her trade came from people getting off the trams. This could prove difficult this year due to limited or no tram service for the entirety of Goose Fair, which opened at 4pm on Friday, September 27, and will close on Sunday, October 6.
The industrial action comes after members of the GMB trade union rejected a pay deal on Thursday, September 26. On Sunday, September 29, Friday, October 4, Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6, there will be no tram service at all.
Colin Whyatt, GMB Regional Organiser, said the union had been working to resolve the dispute and accused tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) of "dragging their feet". GMB, whose members make up at least 90 per cent of the tram network's workforce, had wanted a five per cent pay increase this year, along with a RPI plus one per cent rise the year after.
The union has said more than 200 workers, including drivers, maintenance teams, ticketing, and security staff, will take part in the walk out. This is now having a knock-on effect on Goose Fair traders, Ms Kefford said.
"I was crying all night because I don’t think I’m going to make my rent," she said. Ms Kefford, who has travelled all the way from Plymouth, added: "I have been coming here all my life. My grandparents used to have a ride and sideshows.
"I’ve got two young kids and it costs me a lot of money to be here - rent, diesel, stock, staff - because I’m positioned here most of my trade is from people coming off the trams. I do have sympathy but it’s a knock-on effect because it’s affecting my family now."
The rejected deal would have increased wages by four per cent this year and by the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation plus one per cent next year. NET, which had previously said it could not afford to meet the requests of union members, said the 10-day strike would put the very survival of tram network at risk.
The topic of the tram strike running for the duration of Goose Fair will remain a hot topic amongst traders, they say. Tom Smith, who runs a confectionery stall selling Nottingham's famous cock-on-a-stick, said: "It's pretty much the only conversation we're all having.
"I don't know how it's going to affect us but ultimately I do think the public are going to come. I don't find it fair that the tram drivers are using our business as a lynchpin for them to fight their battles.
"They've used us to say we're not going to work when it's Goose Fair which is fine, but ultimately that is affecting thousand and thousands of people heading to Goose Fair and traders' livelihoods. People came before [the trams] and they'll come again. It is what it is."