TUBE STRIKE SHUTS LONDON UNDERGROUND

4 RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2022 :: RMTnews Over 4,000 striking station and revenue control staff shutdown London Underground earlier this month in a show of strength to oppose pension attacks and job cuts. Trains remained in depots across the network and RMT activists reported huge attendances at picket lines despite heavy rain across the capital. 600 station staff jobs will be lost if Transport for London (TfL) plans go ahead and RMT members face huge detrimental changes to their pensions and working conditions. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch congratulated members on London Underground for taking strike action in defence of their pensions and jobs. "The effectiveness and industrial power of these members cannot be underestimated. "TfL, LUL and the Mayor of London have had ample opportunity to negotiate with the union properly to avert strike action, yet their intransigence and stubbornness have left RMT members no choice but to act decisively. "We will not rest until we have a just settlement to this dispute, and we urge the Mayor to stand up to the Tory government who are cutting funding to TfL rather than try to pick a fight with tube workers," he said. LUL wants to cut 600 CSA jobs to simply save money. It is a return to their mis-named ‘fit for the future’ proposals. Six hundred happens to be the number of jobs the union won back after strikes in 2015 and 2017. The cuts translate to a loss of over 40 of CSAs at some of the biggest stations leading to a massive increase in lone working in the outer zones. Station staff face a huge increase in extreme shifts and cuts to cover will mean more fragmented rosters and difficulties getting leave or accommodating rostering requests. For members on the Special Requirements Team (SRT) and Revenue grades it is even worse with a flexible framework to be imposed. The proposal would require these members to work anywhere across huge areas covering rostered duties wherever needed. Short notice duty changes would become routine in the new proposed arrangement. SRT members will have cover weeks and extreme turns imposed onto their rosters. RE-BALLOT RMT is also presently balloting all grades on London Underground to gain assurances that there are no jobs cuts, no attacks on pensions and no changes to the terms and conditions in RMT agreements. Strike action taken in March has already pushed back the timetable for pension attacks but all options including increased contributions and reduced benefits are under consideration. The re-ballot opened in late May and papers must be returned by 23 June All LUL grades being balloted for strike action and papers must be returned by June 23 TUBE STRIKE SHUTS LONDON UNDERGROUND