Strike ballot on the Tube

Submitted by Anon on 17 June, 2004 - 5:01

By a tubeworker

The rail and tubeworkers' union RMT is in the process of balloting its members for strike action following the collapse of talks on pay and conditions within London Underground and Metronet. All three unions - RMT, ASLEF and (white collar staff) TSSA - have walked out of discussions. Only RMT is balloting its members.

Despite the claims by London Underground that they wanted to reach a three or four year deal to bring a period of industrial peace to the Underground, they are proposing a series of strings in return for talks on the main points of the union's pay claim. The union wants:

  • Above inflation pay increases for each year of any agreement;
  • 32 hour, 4-day week for all staff
  • Re-introduction of paid meal breaks
  • Minimum starting salary for station assistants of £22,000.

London Underground's demands include:

  • 800 station side job cuts, most probably in the ticket offices following the introduction of the Oyster pre-payment system.
  • Flexible working. Staff would have to work on an infraco basis, e.g., be available to work anywhere on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.
  • Performance-related pay.
  • Running trains and keeping stations open later for an hour on Fridays and Saturdays.

Reading between the lines it would appear that London Underground and the infracos are actually trying to provoke action by the RMT, hoping that its members will be demonised and portrayed as greedy, lazy and disruptive by the media.

Meanwhile, on the ground the feeling is generally good, and most people seem to be in favour of some action, especially after the spectre of job cuts has raised its ugly head.

The feeling of anger has been strengthened by the announcement two weeks ago that everyone who works in Learning, Development and Human Resources will have to apply for their own jobs since the management is looking to get a 40% cut in staffing in these departments.

There is also the prospect that London Underground may again attempt to marginalise the RMT by offering the drivers' union ASLEF a deal. They have done this in the past, and that highlights the need for organised activity at branch and activist levels between the three main unions and involving all grades of staff.

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