Franchising, retail, business
28/08/2014
The threat of further strike action across the Tube network increased dramatically today.
Five months of negotiations between London Underground management and union leaders have failed to reach agreement over job cuts and plans for radical changes including axing all but a handful of ticket offices.
The RMT, largest of the Tube unions, said the industrial action campaign will resume next Wednesday, starting with an indefinite overtime ban for thousands of station staff and supervisors.
Union leaders made clear they will consider further full strike action if the overtime ban fails to halt changes.
Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: “The next phase of action has been called for the clear and simple reason that LU has failed to engage in serious discussions over cash-led cuts to jobs, services and safety.”
Phil Hufton, LU’s chief operating officer, said: “We have been in constant dialogue with trades unions and staff over our plans …
“We have guaranteed that there will be no compulsory redundancies, anyone who wants to stay with us can have a job and no one will lose pay providing they are prepared to be flexible.”
In a separate dispute, Aslef union leaders have ordered a second 24-hour walkout of its Central and Waterloo & City drivers on September 17.