TUBE TRAIN drivers are going on strike on Tuesday and Thursday this week in a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over working hours.
At first sight, it’s an unusual dispute. At the moment, Tube drivers work a five day week. Management would prefer them to work longer days over a four day week. The RMT union says longer days would be more tiring for drivers, which could compromise safety.
In the first instance, management want to offer drivers the option of selecting a four day week on a voluntary basis. The RMT has not accepted this and prefers to keep pay, terms and conditions uniform across the workforce. This approach has helped RMT to gain strength as a union and to turn back management attempts to cut terms and conditions in the past – and the RMT is not going back on this approach now.
This position is not shared by Aslef, which has accepted TfL’s proposals – evening welcoming them. Aslef members will not be going on strike this week.
Claire Mann, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer, said that they were disappointed to see the RMT taking strike action despite TfL’s “best efforts to resolve this dispute”. The RMT says that management has refused to engage in negotiation with the union over the four day working week proposal – despite having promised to talk to the union. Management has, the RMT claims, tried to negotiate with a separate “forum” of workers which it has set up. It is this by-passing of established negotiating structures which the RMT believes is dangerous.
●Planned strikes Tuesday, 12 noon, 24 hour strike Thursday, 12 noon, 24 hour strike No service expected on the Circle Line; the Piccadilly Line; the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Aldgate; the Central Line between White City and Liverpool Street.
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