LONDON tram engineers will stage a five-day strike over being paid £10,000 less than workers doing similar jobs on the Tube, Unite confirmed today.

About 60 Croydon Tramlink engineers will walk out from March 24 to 28, following engineering work on Thameslink and Southeastern train routes over the Easter weekend.

The union said the pay disparity is causing Tramlink staffing shortages because workers leave as soon as a higher paid job becomes available.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “For years, Transport for London has got away with paying Tramlink engineers substantially less than their colleagues on the London Underground.

“Not any more — our members are sick of being treated as poor relations by Transport for London.”

Navid Golshan, general manager for London Trams, said: “We urge Unite to continue to work with us to find a resolution and call this strike off.”

The strike will start at 8pm tomorrow, with no tram services from 6pm to 7am until the morning of March 28.