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Trams back on track as strike called off
TRAM workers have called off plans for an 'indefinite' strike which threatened to bring Sheffield's Supertram system to a halt from next Monday.
The dispute arose after Supertram bosses refused to deal with the branch secretary of trade union Unite, which represents around 175 workers on the service.
They said branch secretary Mick Fletcher did not meet the "standards expected of a trade union representative" and "undermined the democratic voting process".
Now Mr Fletcher has asked for the action to be cancelled for the sake of commuters and his union colleagues who would lose pay in the strike.
Phil Bown, Unite regional officer, said in a letter to union members that Mr Fletcher "does not wish to put any of his colleagues' and comrades' livelihoods in jeopardy and does not wish to cause any major disruption to the travelling public of South Yorkshire".
He said the decision came after tram owners Stagecoach sent a letter to all employees informing them they would lose money and be in breach of contract if they took part in the strike.
Mr Bown praised Mr Fletcher's "noble and selfless action" and congratulated union members for their "unwavering support" shown throughout the dispute.
A Supertram spokeswoman said they were pleased with decision,
She said: "We are pleased that the union has seen sense and lifted its threat to disrupt our customers' tram services.
"There was little support for strike action among our employees and we now look forward to getting back to doing what we do best - running a high-quality tram service for the people of Sheffield."
The row began during a pay dispute last October.
Unite members were due to vote on a new deal when Mr Fletcher put a notice on the union notice board saying there was "very little chance" of conductors getting bonus payments - fuelling worries cancelled bonuses were funding the deal.
Stagecoach bosses said the notice would undermine the upcoming vote - and refused to deal with Mr Fletcher in any further negotiations.
Senior Unite officials agreed Mr Fletcher's notice could be "construed as influencing the democratic process".
The union themselves temporarily suspended him from negotiating duties while they investigated the matter.
Unite members later decided to back Mr Fletcher over managers' decision to derecognise him as a union official.
They said only union members should have the power to select their representatives and in a ballot earlier this month 76 voted in favour of industrial action and 42 against.
Mr Bown said he would now ask Stagecoach to meet at ACAS to find an "amicable resolution" to the row.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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