TUBE WORKERS STRIKE FOR JOBS AND PENSIONS

5 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2022 :: RMTnews Over 10,000 tube workers took strike action earlier this month after London Underground bosses refused to rule out job cuts and detrimental changes to pensions. Pickets were out in force at all key locations and that the action is being solidly supported the length and breadth of the tube network. Under the plans at the heart of the dispute, LU will cut 600 frontline jobs for starters and wants to scrap the final salary pension scheme in a bid to drive down costs. However, RMT research has shown that there is no financial crisis in the Transport for London pension scheme and it is currently fully funded, a position that’s likely to be confirmed at its valuation. London Underground is planning to cut 600 station staff jobs further damaging passenger safety and confidence at a time when assaults are on the rise. As a result the union has called for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to keep promises he made to LU workers. He told Labour Party members last year: "Telling those people responsible for heroically keeping London moving throughout the pandemic that now is the time they need to pay more into their pension funds strikes me as neither fair nor reasonable. it is not their fault the pandemic struck and they have acted heroically". The union also pointed out that in May last year, the Mayor also said that it would be "ill judged" to rush through pension changes, warning that it could lead to an industrial dispute. Yet the government has announced the Mayor had agreed he would submit proposals to the government to cut tube workers’ pensions. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that Sadiq Khan should be standing up to Tory ministers who wanted to needlessly attack jobs, pensions and conditions of key transport workers. 2It is this political failure that has left tube workers with no choice but to strike this week. Our members have been left paying the price for a turf war between City Hall and the Government and they are not having it as can be seen right across London today. “The Mayor knows the plan to attack our members’ pensions and conditions is wrong and would leave our union no choice but to take industrial action. "However, only this month the Mayor agreed to submit proposals to the government that will result in detrimental changes to pensions. "The Mayor has to decide if he is on the side of key workers who have kept London moving during the pandemic or Tory ministers hellbent on punishing tube workers. "This dispute can be solved if the Mayor meets the reasonable demands of his own workforce," he said. The union also calling on London Underground to end its deafening silence over continuing negotiations as the latest phase of Night Tube weekend strike action continues. “RMT has proposed simple and cost free options that would enable the suspension of the action which should be a priority for the Mayor and his officials and that means showing a willingness to recommence the talks process,” said Mick Lynch. TUBE WORKERS STRIKE FOR JOBS AND PENSIONS Union calls on London Mayor to stop attacking workers and implementing government funding cuts