London Tube signal staff begin 24-hour strike from 6am Friday
THE first 24-hour signal maintenance workers’ strike on the London Underground begins at 6.45am in the morning (Friday). But transport bosses tonight promised to keep all 12 lines runing with no train cancellations.
THE first 24-hour signal maintenance workers’ strike on the London Underground begins at 6.45am in the morning (Friday).
But transport bosses tonight promised to keep all 12 lines runing with no train cancellations.
They condemned the RMT union in a statement t over the 15 separate days of industrial action planned by 700 staff in dispute over shift patterns being changed for 32 workers.
LU branded as “astonishing” the union’s confirmation of strike action while talks at ACAS are still going on.
The proposed shifts changes was “in line with existing agreements” with unions to ensure engineering staff are always available when the network is operating, claims the statement.
“It is astonishing that the RMT confirms plans to strike while we’re still negotiating at ACAS,” said LU’s maintenance chief Phil Hufton. “This shows they are intent on disrupting London rather than resolving this issue. We’re planning a roster covering seven days a week to ensure engineering staff are always available.”
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The union confirmed strike action by signals staff from 6.45am Friday until 6.45am Saturday. Further 24-hour stoppages are planned on 14 conscutive Sundays from 6.45am from February 14 “until furthere notice.”
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “London Underground has been hell bent on confrontation by tearing up the Signals agreement and unilaterally introducing practices which mean they can make people work what hours they like, when they like.”
Lines affected are the Central, District, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Bakerloo, Victoria and Waterloo & City.
LU is bringing in contingency plans to keep the lines running, a spokesman told the East London Advertiser tonight. Lines unaffected are the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly and the DLR and Overground networks.
