Tyne & Wear Metro workers ballot over pay

The RMT union has called two strike ballots over pay and conditions at the Tyne & Wear Metro in the north east of England.

Operating company DB Regio has offered a pay rise of just 1.3 percent, while its cleaning contractor Churchills is refusing to give any rise in wages.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow described both pay offers as “insulting”. Both strike ballots open this week and are set to close on 22 May.