Tube Lines’ staff are to strike for 24 hours on Friday 23 November over equal access to pensions and benefits.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has called on Transport for London (TFL) to allow Tube Lines’ employees to re-enter its defined benefit (DB) pension scheme since 2010 when Tube Lines became a wholly-owned subsidiary of TFL.
Before 2010, TFL’s pension fund rules allowed staff that were transferred to TFL under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Tupe) regulations, or from a company that became a wholly-owned subsidiary of TFL, to join the DB scheme. However, this rule was suspended in 2010.
The union is also calling for Tube Lines’ workers to be given free travel within London and a discount of 75% on the cost of travel on mainline railways.
Staff working for Tube Lines are responsible for the maintenance and engineering works on the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines, as well as providing the emergency response unit service.
Bob Crow, general secretary at the RMT, said: “This dispute is about justice and about ensuring that all groups of staff under the umbrella of London Underground receive the same rights and benefits.
“Our members have no choice but to strike in the fight to secure those basic rights.”
Jon Lamonth, chief executive of Tube Lines, added: “Further industrial action on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines on this issue is completely unnecessary.
“Since becoming part of Transport for London, all Tube Lines’ employees have kept their existing terms and conditions of employment.”