Union Bosses Speak Out
The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, has declared that the upcoming strike action will effectively “shut down the tube” and serve as a reminder of how crucial these workers truly are. The proposed plans by Transport for London (TfL) to cut 600 jobs and target the pensions of its employees have been met with strong opposition from the union.
An alignment with the RMT and London Underground staff against the Tory Government is being urged by Lynch, especially considering the TfL budget cuts imposed on Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. This is seen as an opportunity to expose the Tories’ destructive agenda concerning a vital aspect of London’s transportation infrastructure.
Aslef, represented by Finn Brennan as its full-time organiser for the London Underground, has announced its participation in the Tube strikes initiated by the RMT. Brennan claims that the proposed changes would make it nearly impossible for drivers to maintain a work-life balance.
Brennan further states, “We only resort to action when it becomes necessary. Sadly, recent events have shown that London Underground management is determined to push through detrimental changes, despite opposition from the trade union, if they believe they can do so without consequences.”
Among these detrimental changes is the introduction of a new attendance procedure, which eliminates representation and appeal rights during the initial disciplinary process while doubling the length of warnings from 26 to 52 weeks. Another concern is the proposed “trains modernisation” plan, involving unrestricted remote booking, longer working shifts of up to 10 hours, flexible cover weeks, and the elimination of fixed links. These changes would disrupt the ability of Tube train drivers to have a life outside of work and maintain an effective change-over system.
Transport for London (TfL) has responded to the strikes, expressing disappointment that the RMT has chosen this course of action instead of engaging in open and cooperative discussions. Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, urges the union to reconsider and join them in seeking resolutions to the issues at hand.
TfL’s government transport agency emphasizes that there are currently no plans to change the pension arrangements, although they are exploring various proposals to ensure job security and no extra work hours for employees. It is worth noting that the RMT plans to extend the strikes to include 20,000 rail workers across the UK in July.
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