London TfL Tram strikes 2024: Dates and services affected as workers walkout over pay

Engineers working on a south London tram service are due to walkout over pay.

Around 60 tram, stores and infrastructure engineers working on Croydon Tramlink, will go on strike from 8pm Sunday May 5 to 6am Thursday May 9.

Unite the union, which represents the workers, accused Transport for London (TfL) of engaging in "bad faith" talks.

A union spokesperson said the engineers are "angry" that their counterparts on the London Underground are paid £10,000 more a year despite having the same level of training.

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Strike action had been due to take place in March but this was suspended to engage in further talks.

The spokesperson said this was because TfL "refused to be transparent about the process it was using to identify pay disparities and broke its word on how they would be resolved".

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is outrageous that TfL somehow thinks it is acceptable to be systemically underpaying highly skilled workers who are essential to keep the tram system functioning.

“TfL was negotiating in bad faith by breaking its promises and withholding information. Unite’s patience has run out with TfL’s disgraceful double-dealing and lack of transparency.

“Our members will now be embarking on strike action and they will have the complete support of their union Unite behind them.”

TfL is advising customers to plan ahead, consider alternative routes, check before they travel and allow extra time to complete their journeys.

Navid Golshan, general manager for London Trams, said: “We urge Unite the Union to continue to work with us to find a resolution and call this strike off.  Customers planning to use London Trams services are urged to check before they travel, allow extra time for their journeys, and check the TfL website or the TfL Go app for the latest travel information.”

TfL says customers should expect the following:

Sunday May 5

A normal London Trams service is expected to operate.  

Monday May 6 to Wednesday May 8

No service expected before 7am or after 6pm on the whole of the London Trams network. 

A reduced service will operate between: 

• Wimbledon and Reeves Corner 
• East Croydon and Beckenham Junction/New Addington 

No service will operate through Croydon town centre or to/from Elmer’s End all day

Next tram information displayed at tram stops will offer limited information 

Customers are advised to plan ahead, to consider alternative routes, to check before they travel, and to allow more time to complete their journey

Thursday May 9

Services are expected to start later than normal, with possible disruption throughout the day  

Next tram information displayed at tram stops will offer limited information 

Customers are advised to plan ahead, to consider alternative routes, to check before they travel, and to allow more time to complete their journey