RMT confirms new strike dates in Night Tube dispute
TUBE UNION RMT has today confirmed two twenty four hour strikes in the Night Tube and station jobs disputes as London Underground management, under the direction of Mayor Boris Johnson, continue to stall over the issue of work/life balance and job cuts arising from the new rosters and the Fit for the Future programme – due to come into force from the 12th September.
As a result, the executive of the union has taken the following decision:
“We note the magnificent strike action involving all 4 Trade Unions on the Underground. We particularly applaud our members for their solid and resolved action to defend their conditions of service, jobs and pay.
We note the continued intransigence and provocation by LU Management and their continued failure to address the wider issues of work life balance.
We therefore instruct the General Secretary to inform London Underground that:
Train Operator and Instructor Operator members are to take strike action as follows:-
- By not booking on for any shifts commencing from 2100 hours on Tuesday 25th August 2015 until 2059 hours on Wednesday 26th August 2015; and again
- By not booking on for any shifts commencing from 2100 hours on Thursday 27th August 2015 until 2059 hours on Friday 28th August 2015
All Other Grades:-
- By not booking on for any shifts commencing from 1830 hours on Tuesday 25th August 2015 until 1829 hours on Wednesday 26th August 2015; and again
- By not booking on for any shifts commencing from 1830 hours on Thursday 27th August 2015 until 1829 hours on Friday 28th August 2015
We also note with concern that two of our Fleet Branch members have been sent home and pay deducted for carrying out Union instructions on training. We salute these members and we will not leave them isolated. We instruct the General Secretary to liaise with LU Fleet Branch in order to provide practical support to these members.”
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“Our members the length and breadth of London Underground have made it clear that they are determined to protect their work/life balance and not fall into a trap where they will be forced to wreck their home lives in order to comply with the “rosters from hell” which have been drawn up to plug the staffing gaps in the Night Tube plans.
“Staff are angry that their grievances are being ignored and dismissed by both the Mayor and his officials and that there has been no substantial move as of today from London Underground to make progress towards a negotiated settlement. That is why we have no option but to strike again. It is ridiculous that the job cuts programme for fleet, engineering and station staff is also still being bulldozed through against this background.
“The Night Tube plan has been botched from the off. The basics haven’t been done and those who will pay for this shambles will not only be our members but the London daily travelling public who cough up a fortune and who will find their safety and the reliability of the service compromised from 12th September onwards. Running tube services with fatigued and burnt-out staff is a recipe for disaster.
“The action goes ahead and RMT remains available for talks regardless of the point we have reached in the dispute which is perfectly normal.”