South London Tramlink strike: Two-day walk-out threatens to cripple services next week

"Last year they saw their pension benefits drastically cut as FirstGroup milked its staff to increase its profits.

"Tramlink staff work hard to deliver a service that is crucial to the economy of Croydon and the wider South London area it serves. But it is clear that their employer simply does not value them. As the cost of living, and especially housing costs in London continue to rocket, their living standards have declined.

"The current pay offer of 2.6 per cent doesn't make up for the cuts FirstGroup has made to pensions and means staff will continue to earn much less then they deserve."

A spokesman for Tram Operations Limited said: "We're very disappointed Aslef decided to proceed to strike action, instead of rejoining us around the negotiating table.

"We feel we’ve made an offer that is competitive and which union negotiators agreed with, and we have received no further proposals from the union on a way forward as a basis on which to meet.

"A strike will bring massive disruption to customers. We ask Aslef to rejoin us around the table to seek a solution that will bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone."