Tram strike called off at 11th hour - just in time for Goose Fair on Saturday
The planned strike which was to hit the tram system over the next 10 days has been called off. Tram operator Nottingham Express Transit (NET) made the announcement just in time for the first Saturday session of Goose Fair.
NET posted on X that "normal tram service will resume from 6am on Saturday 28 September, including services to and from Goose Fair". It thanked people for their patience.
Goose Fair opened at 4pm on Friday, September 27, and will close on Sunday, October 6. The planned industrial action came after members of the GMB trade union rejected a pay deal on Thursday, September 26.
However, this evening around 10pm, a statement from NET explained: "Due to strike action being called off, normal service will resume from 6am Saturday 28 September. This includes services to and from Goose Fair.
"We would like to thank all our customers for their patience."
GMB Midlands said: "Nottingham’s Goose Fair tram strikes have ended. Workers voted to end ongoing industrial action after negotiations reached an agreement today."
Earlier, Colin Whyatt, GMB Regional Organiser, had the union had accused 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.
NET, which had previously said it could not afford to meet the requests of union members, had said the 10-day strike would put the very survival of tram network at risk.