London Underground workers will stage a series of strikes for seven days next month in a dispute over pay and conditions. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said its Tube members will take industrial action at different times from 5 September.
The union claimed management had refused to engage seriously with its demands on pay, fatigue management, shift patterns, and a reduction in the working week. In a separate dispute over pay and conditions, RMT members on London’s Docklands Light Railway will also be striking in the week beginning 7 September.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated, «Our members are doing a fantastic job to keep our capital moving and work strenuous shift patterns to ensure Londoners reach their destinations around the clock. They are not after a King’s ransom, but fatigue and extreme shift rotations are serious issues impacting our members’ health and wellbeing, which have not been adequately addressed for years by LU management.»
Dempsey continued, «Coupled with the fact that there are outstanding issues around staff travel arrangements, an atmosphere of distrust has been created where our members feel like no one is listening to them. RMT will continue to engage with LU management to seek a revised offer in order to reach a negotiated settlement.»
A Transport for London spokesperson responded, stating, «We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss any concerns they may have, and we recently met with the RMT to address specific points. We are committed to ensuring our colleagues are treated fairly and have made progress on a number of commitments we have previously made, including offering a 3.4% pay increase in ongoing discussions.»
The spokesperson added, «We welcome further engagement with our unions about fatigue and rostering across London Underground, but a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable. Given the recent improvements we have implemented in response to concerns raised by our unions, we urge the RMT to present our fair, affordable pay offer to their members and to continue engaging with us rather than resorting to strike action, which will only disrupt Londoners.»
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