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| Tube strikes: London Underground workers to stage two more walkouts | Tube strikes: London Underground workers to stage two more walkouts |
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| London Underground workers are to stage two further 24-hour strikes as the dispute over all-night tube services continues, the RMT union has announced. | London Underground workers are to stage two further 24-hour strikes as the dispute over all-night tube services continues, the RMT union has announced. |
| It said the walkouts on 25 and 27 August will take place because London Underground management, under the direction of the city’s mayor, Boris Johnson, are continuing to stall over the issue of work-life balance and job cuts arising from the new rosters, due to come into effect from 12 September. | It said the walkouts on 25 and 27 August will take place because London Underground management, under the direction of the city’s mayor, Boris Johnson, are continuing to stall over the issue of work-life balance and job cuts arising from the new rosters, due to come into effect from 12 September. |
| “Our members the length and breadth of London Underground have made it clear that they are determined to protect their work-life balance and not fall into a trap where they will be forced to wreck their home lives in order to comply with the ‘rosters from hell’, which have been drawn up to plug the staffing gaps in the night tube plans,” said Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary. | “Our members the length and breadth of London Underground have made it clear that they are determined to protect their work-life balance and not fall into a trap where they will be forced to wreck their home lives in order to comply with the ‘rosters from hell’, which have been drawn up to plug the staffing gaps in the night tube plans,” said Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary. |
| The dispute is over terms and conditions for the introduction of the night tube service, which will see 24-hour services on central London lines on weekends. Although London Underground said no staff would be forced to work longer hours or additional shifts, and that employees could choose to work nights or not after a “transitional period” of up to a year, workers are seeking guarantees that TfL appears unwilling to give. Unions have called for the launch to be delayed. | The dispute is over terms and conditions for the introduction of the night tube service, which will see 24-hour services on central London lines on weekends. Although London Underground said no staff would be forced to work longer hours or additional shifts, and that employees could choose to work nights or not after a “transitional period” of up to a year, workers are seeking guarantees that TfL appears unwilling to give. Unions have called for the launch to be delayed. |
| Related: Tube bosses spell out night service's impact on staff to avert more strikes | Related: Tube bosses spell out night service's impact on staff to avert more strikes |
| The 24-hour strikes will start from 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 August and again from 6.30pm on Thursday 27 August. It is likely to mean no tube services run on Wednesday 26 August and Friday 28 August. | The 24-hour strikes will start from 6.30pm on Tuesday 25 August and again from 6.30pm on Thursday 27 August. It is likely to mean no tube services run on Wednesday 26 August and Friday 28 August. |
| London Underground called on the unions to engage in “calm and realistic” discussion to resolve the dispute. | |
| “Instead of yet more strike threats, we need level-headed and sensible discussion on how to deliver a modern transport service for London, alongside fairly rewarding our hardworking staff and protecting their work-life balance,” said Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s chief operating officer. | |
| “That deal needs to be affordable and sustainable – and certainly not be at the expense of massive fare rises or cuts to tube improvements – and can only be agreed around a negotiating table, not through strike threats.” | |
| LU said it has recruited more than 500 extra staff - train operators, station, service control, engineering and maintenance staff to minimise the impact of night tube on shift patterns, | |
| “This means we can guarantee that drivers will work the same, or less, weekends than they do now and, after a short transition period, they will have a choice about whether they work night tube shifts or not,” added Griffiths. | |
| The announcement of fresh strikes followed fruitless talks on Monday, when officials from four unions met LU bosses in an attempt to break the deadlock. By calling two strikes in the same week, the unions have decided to escalate the dispute. | The announcement of fresh strikes followed fruitless talks on Monday, when officials from four unions met LU bosses in an attempt to break the deadlock. By calling two strikes in the same week, the unions have decided to escalate the dispute. |
| In a bulletin sent to employees on Monday, Griffiths said: “We have put forward a very fair, revised offer which recognises not only the introduction of night tube services but the work-life flexibility that we know is important to you. | |
| “We will continue to consult on rosters and you will be able to swap your shifts around. This means you can plan the shifts that best suit you. More importantly, no one will be asked to work more hours than they do today. Everybody remains entitled to two days off in seven, and annual leave entitlements are unchanged.” | “We will continue to consult on rosters and you will be able to swap your shifts around. This means you can plan the shifts that best suit you. More importantly, no one will be asked to work more hours than they do today. Everybody remains entitled to two days off in seven, and annual leave entitlements are unchanged.” |
| The fresh strikes will cast renewed doubt on 12 September as the start date of the night tube service. | The fresh strikes will cast renewed doubt on 12 September as the start date of the night tube service. |
| Cash said: “The night tube plan has been botched from the off. The basics haven’t been done and those who will pay for this shambles will not only be our members but the London daily travelling public who cough up a fortune and who will find their safety and the reliability of the service compromised from 12 September onwards. Running tube services with fatigued and burnt-out staff is a recipe for disaster.” | Cash said: “The night tube plan has been botched from the off. The basics haven’t been done and those who will pay for this shambles will not only be our members but the London daily travelling public who cough up a fortune and who will find their safety and the reliability of the service compromised from 12 September onwards. Running tube services with fatigued and burnt-out staff is a recipe for disaster.” |