Stadler and fair pay for keyworkers on the Tyne and Wear Metro

That this House notes that staff who work to maintain the Tyne and Wear Metro’s fleet have worked hard to keep the region’s highly successful Metro service running throughout the covid-19 pandemic; further notes that those workers were recently transferred into the employment of Stadler Rail Services UK, a subsidiary of Stadler Rail AG; notes that, on transfer, Stadler’s UK managing director said he was well aware of the critical role each and every one of them would play in the company’s future success; notes that Stadler’s latest financial results show a revenue of 3.1 billion Swiss francs and an eight per cent rise in net profits; notes with concern that in spite of those results, Stadler is imposing a pay freeze on the same dedicated workers who have maintained the Tyne and Wear Metro fleet at a time when inflation is rising fast; deeply regrets that Stadler’s actions have resulted in RMT and Unite members voting to take strike action; believes that industrial action would be damaging to the Tyne and Wear Metro’s recovery; and calls on Stadler to return to the table with a fair pay offer to resolve the dispute.