London Underground workers have begun rolling strike action today due to an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Due to take place over the next seven days, the strike will include different grades taking action at differing times.
The workers, who are members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), voted overwhelmingly to strike. They argue their management is refusing to engage with demands on pay, fatigue management, shift patterns and a working week reduction, as well as failing to honour previous agreements.
Ruislip Depot operational managers will strike from 6pm today to 5.59pm tomorrow over pay parity; track access controllers, control centre staff, and power, control and ERU members will strike on Sunday 7 September; and fleet, engineering, station and train members will strike on Monday 8 September.
Meanwhile, signallers, service control and ERU members will strike on Tuesday 9 September; fleet, ERU, engineering, stations and trains members will strike on Wednesday 10 September; and signallers and service control members will strike on Thursday 11 September. Docklands Light Railway workers will also strike on 7 September.
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary at RMT, said: “Fatigue and extreme shift rotations are serious issues impacting on our members’ health and wellbeing, all of which have not been adequately addressed for years by management.
“Coupled with the fact 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 management with a view to seeking a revised offer in order to reach a negotiated settlement.”
Claire Mann, chief operating officer at Transport for London, added: “We regularly meet with our trade unions to discuss any concerns that they may have, and we recently met with RMT to discuss some specific points. We are committed to ensuring our staff are treated fairly and, as well as offering a 3.4% pay increase in our ongoing pay discussions, we have made progress on previous commitments.
“We welcome further engagement about fatigue and rostering across London Underground, but a reduction in the contractual 35-hour working week is neither practical nor affordable. We want them to continue to engage with us and put our fair, affordable pay offer to their members.”
