A union boss has said that he is keen to resolve the bitter trade dispute between his members and Nexus - but only if the deal is right.
This comes as Metro drivers in the RMT union are sent to shut down the entire Tyne and Wear network for another two days amid an ongoing dispute with the transport provider.
If the strike goes ahead it will cause widespread disruption on Monday, 6 January and Tuesday, 7 January, the first days of new school and college terms.
This means there will be no Metro services system-wide, with thousands of passengers left to plan ahead and find other modes of transport.
Now, regional organiser Mickey Thompson said the decision to strike was taken by the union's members, with 99 votes out of 101 cast in mid-November being in favour of industrial action.
"I do not like to take strike action, this is a decision we democratically took," he said.
"I'm trying to negotiate with the employer who have not reached out to solve the impasse.
"The only option available to us is to withdraw our Labour, our only option to get them back to the table is to hit them as hard as we can."
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, urged union leaders to call off the strike and instead respond to its invitation to hold further talks, working through the conciliation service ACAS if need-be.
Mr Thompson said he was willing to meet with Metro bosses and ACAS but wouldn't take strike action off the table.
He continued: "We're still available to meet with the employer for negotiations to resolve the trade dispute but until today there has been no approach from the employer.
"We would happily meet with them as long as there is no pre-conditions."
Mr Thompson said that the union had already written to Nexus and ACAS, saying he is happy to meet with both organisations.
"I'm happy to meet with the employer and do whatever I can do to protect my members' interests and to reach a resolution to the trade dispute."
The union organiser said that if "significant progress" was made in talks he would recommend that RMT cease industrial action.
He added: "If significant progress is achieved I would write to the general secretary and the national executive committee requesting cessation of strike action, the only people that can call strike action off is the executive committee."
Reaction from commuters was mixed, with support for the drivers but others expressing frustration at the strike action.
Louise Sloom, 36, from Newcastle, said: "I hope it can be resolved before people will go back to work. It will be a big inconvenience and just a pain."
Ralf Pinder, 79, of North Shields, added: "I support the strikes and the management need to think of their staff."
Metro director Chris Carson urged the union to come back to the table.
He said: “The RMT’s paid officials say they want to negotiate to end this dispute and yet they are calling more hugely disruptive strike action. They need to call the strikes off and get back into talks with Nexus.
“ Nexus has contacted ACAS and we are ready to hold talks through that body, if the RMT call off this unnecessary strike action.
"I am sorry for the impact this dispute is having on working people who use Metro and local businesses.
"Our passengers face disruption at the start of the first full week back at work after the festive break, and the start of new school and college terms. The union is showing a disregard for the travelling public.
“As a public body which makes no profit we cannot afford to go beyond the 15% pay offer we have made in writing to the RMT, but we are convinced a deal can be done on the outstanding details of new rostering arrangements. We had got most of the way there before this dispute started so let’s finish the job.”
