Tube Strike (10/07/15)

Here are two recent article from The Independent on the London Tube strike and having read both carefully I'm still in the dark as to what the dispute is all about.

Apparently, Transport for London is introducing a 24-hour Tube service and that must be a good thing for all the tourists and visitors, as well as the 11 million or so people who live and work in one of the world's great capital cities.

Like any 24-hour service, the Tube needs a proper 'roster' in order to work effectively otherwise the whole thing descends into chaos.

When I worked in the NHS, many years ago, there were always arguments about the 'fairness' of the shifts people worked over a 24/7 roster, so after I while I produced one of my own, as the local NUPE rep, which required all of the staff (myself included) to work through the same pattern of shifts over an 8 week period.

During that time we could swap with each other so long as all the shifts were covered and any changes were notified in advance to the management.

So what's the big deal with working out a fair shift pattern on the London Underground?

The RMT union says the dispute is not about pay but about 'work/life balance' though nowhere does the union explain what this means.

All rather baffling and disappointing if you ask me, especially as I'm due to visit London soon.         


Tube strike today: Drivers 'can strike until they're blue in the face' but won't get a new offer, says Boris Johnson

The Mayor of London has remained firm in the Night Tube dispute

By JON STONE - The Independent

Tube drivers can “strike until they are blue in the face” but will not convince Transport for London to give them a better pay and conditions offer for working overnight, the Mayor of London has said.

Boris Johnson issued the defiant message hours ahead of a combined strike by London Underground workers represented by four trade unions.

Members of the RMT, Unite, and the TSSA will walk out on Wednesday for 24 hours from 6.30pm. They will later be joined by members of Aslef who will walk out for 24 hours from 9.30pm.

The dispute is about pay and conditions for Tube workers on the new all-night weekend Tube service, which Transport for London wants to introduce in September.

“There’s been plenty of time to put this offer to the relevant part of the workforce, I think it’s a great shame that it hasn’t been done,” the Mayor said on LBC radio.

“The only conclusion I can draw from it is that there’s a determination to go ahead with this strike

“Whatever happens there will be no change in it. People can strike until they’re blue in the face. We will go ahead with the Night Tube.”

Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, yesterday said unions had made significant efforts to deescalate the situation.

“Despite strenuous efforts by union negotiators to press London Underground to address the issues of fairness, safety, work-life balance and equality at the heart of this dispute, they have come up with nothing in the talks this afternoon,” he said.

The cooperation between the four trade unions means that the entire London Underground network is set to be shut down for the first time since 2002.

The DLR, Overground and TfL Rail services will run as normal, as will national heavy rail services.

Extra buses, coaches, and river boat services are to be provided.

'But you get paid loads!' and other misconceptions about London's striking Tube drivers

It's not about the money, we’re doing this more in sorrow than anger


By FINN BRENNAN - The Independent

The strike by Tube drivers on London Underground this week – the first time ASLEF has been on strike across the network since 2002 – will bring the capital to a grinding halt. Finn Brennan, a Tube driver for 23 years, and now the lead negotiator for the union, explains what the dispute is really about and responds to criticism of his members’ actions.

Don't you get paid loads?

This dispute has never been about money. It’s about the life/work balance for Tube drivers in London and making sure that change is negotiated, not imposed. We welcome the Night Tube. London, which is one of the world’s great cities, needs it. But it should be introduced properly, and sensibly, not imposed by management through bullying and intimidation.

What’s so bad about working night shifts?

Anti-social hours are really unpopular, bad for your health, and extremely disruptive of family life.

Lots of jobs have to work nights, why should you be any different?

We’re not objecting to working night shifts, but we want them introduced in a way that is fair and protects the work/life balance of the drivers who deliver a first class public service to passengers every day.

Our members on London Underground voted overwhelmingly for strike action because the company tried to force through, without negotiation, new rosters which would mean Tube drivers would have to work an unlimited number of weekend and night shifts for no extra pay. In the ballot conducted by Electoral Reform Services 97.6 per cent voted for strike action on a turnout of 81.3 per cent.

It’s selfish – none of us can get to work because of your complaints

We didn’t choose to be in this position. The responsibility for this strike rests entirely with the management of London Underground who have not negotiated seriously throughout this dispute. They wouldn’t talk to us for months and then, when they did sit down with us on Monday, gave us just a couple of hours to consider their proposals, which they knew was not long enough, and withdrew them at 6.30pm. 

There must be other ways to get your point across…

Every man and woman has the right to withdraw their labour.

London Underground have had months to negotiate a solution, but they chose not to. First they threatened to impose the new rosters and then, when we got an overwhelming mandate for a strike in a ballot, eventually sat down at the table and offered us conditions they knew we would not, and could not, accept. London Underground, frankly, left us with no option

You're holding the city to ransom

London Underground are holding the city to ransom.

The ballot was triggered when management ended direct talks with the unions and started the process to impose new rosters. Underground staff have been told that unless they agree to the rosters then no pay offer will be made this year. There was a window of opportunity for London Underground managers to avoid a summer of disruption by seriously engaging with us to find a solution. They need to make a realistic offer. We are always prepared to talk, but they have to start listening to this very clear message from their staff.

What is the one thing you want to tell anyone who is against the strike?

I want them to know that we're doing this more in sorrow, than anger, because we have been boxed in by management.