TRAVELLERS in Derby have had their journeys hit by a strike over pay from East Midlands Trains staff – and there's more disruption to come.
More than 80 engineering and maintenance employees are on strike at depots in Derby, Nottingham, and Leeds, for four days until 5.59am on Thursday.
The members of the union Unite are calling for the company to improve a 2.75% pay offer for the year ending April 2015, claiming other employees have received more.
The strike meant that 34 train journeys between Derby and Matlock, via Belper, had bus replacement services on Monday.
The 4.46pm train between Derby and London St Pancras, via Corby, was cancelled, as was the 9.26am from Corby to Derby, via Melton Mowbray. Other services to and from Derby ran as usual.
The same things will happen until the strike comes to an end.
A continuous ban on the staff working overtime is happening at the same time.
Peter Isle, 50, of Darley Dale, was waiting for the replacement bus service from Derby to Matlock on Monday night, on his way home from work.
He said the strike's affects were "annoying" and that few people knew about the replacement bus service times on Monday morning.
Mr Isle said: "The bus I took set off at 7.05am, replacing the 7.37am train. That train would normally have two full carriages with people standing. The bus was half empty. That shows how few people knew about it."
Steven Bailey, 33, of Belper, said the strike had added 40 minutes to his travel time.
Unite regional officer Mick Millichamp called the East Midlands Trains pay offer "paltry".
He said: "The management has not applied equal treatment to this group of workers as other groups of employees have received greater improvements to their terms and conditions.
"The timing of this dispute was set by the employer's failure to recognise Unite members' legitimate grievances.
"It is regrettable that this employer has failed to build on the co-operation and goodwill Unite members demonstrated last year when extensive line work was carried out and the workforce at Nottingham and Derby carried out all maintenance work at the Derby depot."
A spokesman from East Midlands Trains said the firm "shared customers' frustration over the unnecessary action being taken by Unite".
He said: "We have carried out a comprehensive communications campaign over several days to inform our customers of the changes to their service and this will continue until the action comes to an end.
"We do take all passenger feedback on board and will work to provide the best possible service during this action."
