Posted 4th February 2010 | 3 Comments
Underground and RMT clash over maintenance strikes
LONDON Underground is criticising the RMT union for staging the first of 15 planned strikes of maintenance staff in a dispute over rosters. LU described the union's stance as ‘astonishing’, but the RMT accused LU of ‘treating staff like slabs of meat which can be pulled off the shelf when it suits managers’.
The first of the strikes, involving 750 staff, is due to take place tomorrow (Friday). London Underground said: ‘The RMT have made clear they want farepayers money to cover planned maintenance shifts by increasing overtime payments. Union bosses have also tried to claim that their members’ jobs are at risk from external contractors even though an arrangement to use contractors only to address specific issues has been in place for some time.’
LU also pointed out that the disputed rosters affect only 32 staff, and that in any case negotiations at ACAS are still in progress.
But the union claimed that the company had been ‘unilaterally ripping up agreements’, and that more than 90 per cent of the staff had voted in favour of the strikes.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “This overwhelming vote for action has shown LU management that if they think that they can ride roughshod over our terms and conditions then they need to think again. It’s their bully-boy management style which has forced us into this dispute.”
Reader Comments:
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m j farrell, ruislip middx, england
i am a member of signals track if lul is saying it involves just 30 staff why call the whole signal dept maintainance out on strike why not track staff as well then no track patrols would get done this action is not going to hurt the trains or frequency i find it pointless one department while over the years we have supported departments in dispute i feel this will be a very long dispute with money loss for the members why not ballot the track staff for support that would be more effective
Ray, SUTTON SURREY, ENGLAND
There is only one bully-boy, Bob Crow. What about all the people who NEED TO GO TO WORK on Friday, not to mention Friday evening leisure time. So its Friday or Sunday for the strikes - very convenient for the long week-end tube workers.
One day Crow may need help from someone somewhere, and I just hope that all fed up Londoners remember, and leave him to suffer in his own 'juices'!!! I'm a blood doner but he will never get any of mine if he is ever unfortunate to need some.
If the tube workers have a concience they should go to work like everone else who is not in a position to hold hundreds of thousands of people to ransom.
Mofo, london
Increasing overtime payments? Only 32 staff affected? Absolute Lies. 32 staff in every depot more like!! Do less maaintaecee so lul caan usemaintaninece staff to cover weekend shutdowns at flat rate!!