17 April 2012

Tube Workers Set Date For Strike

London Underground construction and maintenance workers have voted for 72 hour strike action next week.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), which represents around 1,000 staff on the Tube Lines contracts, said its members will walk out at 4pm on Tuesday until the same time on Friday.

The dispute has arisen over union members wanting to join Transport for London's (TfL) pension scheme and receive travel concessions.

Members say other people who work for LU receive these benefits and it was time "all groups of staff under the umbrella of London Underground receive the same rights and benefits".

The staff carries out work on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines and provide a number of services, including emergency repairs, across the entire network.

The RMT executive will now consider the next move, including whether to set strike dates, which officials said would cause "widespread disruption".

"RMT members have delivered a massive mandate for action following a straightforward demand for parity with other Tube staff, said RMT general secretary, Bob Crow.

Adding: "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, and our members have no choice but to strike to secure those basic rights.

"We have gone through all the negotiating channels but Tube Lines has refused to budge and have refused to engage in meaningful talks and that pig-headed approach has raised the temperature on the shop floor and has resulted in this strike action being called.

"Former Metronet employees have been allowed back into the Transport for London (TfL) pension fund and now also have the same travel facilities as other LU employees.

"Tube Lines is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London and there is simply no excuse for refusing to give equal pension and pass rights.

"The union remains ready to talk, and the strong mandate for this industrial action shows Tube Lines and TfL the depth of anger there is over this blatant lack of fairness and justice."