London Underground Staff Call Three Day Strike

[Left Leanings]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/9208371/London-underground-staff-call-three-day-strike.html

The Royal Maritime and Transport union (RMT), has called a 3 day strike, to defend pensions and benefits. The walkout will will involve 1000 workers, who maintain the tube lines.

[Rainsborough]

Can the army drive tube trains perhaps? :rolleyes:

[dodger]

TUBE UNION RMT today confirmed 72 hours of strike action following a four to one vote in a ballot of Tube Lines staff in support of a dispute over pensions and benefits justice.

Following a decision of the union’s executive all RMT members have been instructed to take strike action as follows: to stop work at 16:00hrs on Tuesday 24 April 2012 and return to work for shifts starting after 16:00hrs on Friday 27 April 2012.

RMT has been demanding that all Tube Lines staff, including ex-Alstom staff at Stratford Market depot and the Emergency Response Unit, be allowed to join the TfL Pension Scheme and receive the same travel concessions as those who work for LUL, including former Metronet staff. The union call for justice has been on the agenda ever since London Underground took over Tube Lines as part of the rescue operation after the failure of the tube privatisation project

Parity would bring Tube Lines staff free travel within London and 75 per cent of the cost of travel on the mainline railway – the concession that all Tube staff, including ex-Metronet people, already get.

Tube Lines staff are responsible for both maintenance and upgrade work on the Jubilee line, Northern line and Piccadilly line. They also provide a number of services across the network including the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Distribution Services and Trans Plant meaning that the action by staff will have a serious and widespread impact across the system as well as raising serious safety concerns if management attempt to run services without proper emergency cover. RMT reps will be closely monitoring the safety environment.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“RMT members have delivered a massive mandate for action following a straightforward demand for parity with other Tube staff. This dispute is about justice and about ensuring that all groups of staff under the umbrella of London Underground receive the same rights and benefits and our members have no choice but to strike to secure those basic rights.”

“We have gone through all the negotiating channels but Tube Lines has refused to budge and have refused to engage in meaningful talks and that pig-headed approach has raised the temperature on the shop floor and has resulted in this strike action being called.

“Former Metronet employees have been allowed back into the TfL Pension Fund (TfLPF) and now also have the same travel facilities as other LUL employees.

“Tube Lines is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London and there is simply no excuse for refusing to give equal pension and pass rights.

“The union remains ready to talk, and the strong mandate for this industrial action shows Tube Lines and TfL the depth of anger there is over this blatant lack of fairness and justice.

MR Brown and his friends in Brussels created this farcical situation. OH yes

Red KEN LIVINGSTON What part did he play? HiHi the sap wants getting elected for London Mayor. Boris has yet to reach Ken's level of vileness. Though give him time. I wont vote for either.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Red KEN LIVINGSTON What part did he play? HiHi the sap wants getting elected for London Mayor. Boris has yet to reach Ken's level of vileness. Though give him time. I wont vote for either.

I always wondered why they kept calling him Red Ken, he always seemed more like a brown-green algae to me.

[Left Leanings]

I always wondered why they kept calling him Red Ken, he always seemed more like a brown-green algae to me.

Haha yeah. He's got what I call an insipid quality about him, to me. He once said that "if voting changed anything, they would abolish it". I think he wrote a book of the same title. He has consistently stood in elections, too. Basically, he is a Labourite, who shows a left face, and leads the working-class down a blind alley, giving them false hopes in change via the Labour Party and the electoral process :)

[dodger]

Haha yeah. He's got what I call an insipid quality about him, to me. He once said that "if voting changed anything, they would abolish it". I think he wrote a book of the same title. He has consistently stood in elections, too. Basically, he is a Labourite, who shows a left face, and leads the working-class down a blind alley, giving them false hopes in change via the Labour Party and the electoral process :)

There's a lot of sanctimonious drivel talked about the slave trade and its so-called abolition. And none more sanctimonious nor drivelling than London Mayor Livingstone, "apologising" for London's alleged role.2007

But it wasn't London, it was the ruling class. And they started with London street children, then rebels, then the Irish, and when they had run out of them looked to Africa. Now open borders are allowing modern-day slavery in domestic service and prostitution in London.

London's workers have nothing to apologise for. Livingstone should apologise to them.

[dodger]

The management and Boris are not in the least concerned with safety, if it comes at a price.

TUBE UNION RMT today wrote to TFL chiefs demanding safety assurances during the Tube Lines strike action next week after bosses issued statements saying that they will continue to try and run services regardless of whether essential maintenance and repairs work is being carried out and regardless of the fact that the safety-critical Emergency Response Unit will be joining the strike action.

In a series of cavalier and politically-motivated statements, Tube Lines managers have attempted to create the impression that the essential day-to-day work of tube maintenance and emergency staff is an irrelevance to the running of the system and have implied that they intend to ride roughshod over established and agreed safety procedures.

Tube Lines staff, including the Emergency Response unit, will stop work at 16:00hrs on Tuesday 24 April 2012 and return to work for shifts starting after 16:00hrs on Friday 27 April 2012 in a dispute over pensions and benefits equality and justice.

In letters to Mike Strzelecki, safety director at London Underground, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow says:

“I am writing to inform you that during the planned industrial action by RMT members employed at Tube Lines from 16.00 hours on Tuesday 24th April 2012 until 16.00 hours on Friday 27th April 2012 the RMT does not believe it will be safe to operate the tube network.

“During this period not only will there be no track patrolling or signal maintenance on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines but more critically for the whole network there will be no Emergency Response Unit (ERU). As you will be aware, in addition to the ERU’s role in dealing with broken rails, damaged points, negative earths, stalled trains, flats on trains and derailments the ERU are vital in dealing with the aftermath of suicides and terrorist attacks.

“Should you attempt to run a service during the period of industrial action I shall advise RMT members of their option to remove themselves to a place of safety should they feel that their working conditions place them at risk of ‘serious or imminent’ danger.”

RMT has copied the letter to the Office of Rail Regulation requesting their intervention on the safety issue and requesting an urgent report back. Pro-formas have also been sent to all RMT members on London Underground requesting reallocation of duties to a safe working environment where members believe that they are in serious and imminent danger as a result of the non-operation of the Emergency Response Unit and other core safety protection.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“Instead of getting round the table to settle this very basic dispute on the issues of equality and fairness for Tube Lines staff on pensions and benefits, the company have instead resorted to a barrage of cavalier statements that represent a massive gamble with the safety of both tube users and tube staff.

“Ignoring the hard reality that maintenance and ERU staff are absolutely integral to tube safety is extraordinary and we will not allow our members to be placed at risk as a result.

“This dispute can be easily resolved and posturing by politicians and tube managers does nothing to help reach a solution.”

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Unions and bosses clash sabres for the 000th time, the general populace just acts pissed off that the trains might be late while the press villify the unions and unionism in general. And a few dickhead career politicians will try and score points off it all so they can become mayor.
Just another day in modern Britain :(

[dodger]

Any wonder that Livingstone moved his office to Brussels. My fellow union members have a irrefutable case. The anarchic free for all has cost workers taxpayers and travellers millions. Still they have their snouts in the trough. Now education and health is getting the EU PPP TREATMENT. . look and weep. I am more convinced than ever these services must be brought back under democratic control. UNELECTED COMMISSIONERS IN BRUSSELS HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES UNFIT. Work needs doing, things need making. For example, whenever you are on a train or on London Underground, and signal failures blight your journey, remind people that the signals are likely to be 70 years old and we could and should make new ones here in Britain.

[scarletghoul]

free replacement bus service, fuck yeah

[MotherCossack]

god its so depressing!!!!!!
i have always liked that ken left the labour party or got thrown out..... or was it that they chose someone else.... cant remember... but he won anyway and made blair look like a prat...... and god do i loathe blair with a vehemence that is hard to control.
ken impressed me when i was a teenager... he spoke at my local labour party nearing the time that the Greater London Council was eradicated.
he was 24... i remember and apart from a huge gap in his teeth.... he was, at that time the most left-wing politician with any power in this country.
also, back then he was certainly a lot more well-intentioned and appeared markedly more genuine than his contemporaries [when he spoke, in person, to the meeting i mean ] ...
i suppose things have changed.... as has he.... and there is not much that a man who wants power back, after it has been, unceremoniously, lost, will not do!

how can we stop the degradation of a person's intent, their soul, in the event they achieve power?

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

i suppose things have changed.... as has he.... and there is not much that a man who wants power back, after it has been, unceremoniously, lost, will not do!

how can we stop the degradation of a person's intent, their soul, in the event they achieve power?

I don't know if it possible...you only haveto look at petty office politics to see how different people act once they're given a hint of authority over others (yes, talking about you Ms Cluff, ball-busting arseface)

[dodger]

god its so depressing!!!!!!
i have always liked that ken left the labour party or got thrown out..... or was it that they chose someone else.... cant remember... but he won anyway and made blair look like a prat...... and god do i loathe blair with a vehemence that is hard to control.
ken impressed me when i was a teenager... he spoke at my local labour party nearing the time that the Greater London Council was eradicated.
he was 24... i remember and apart from a huge gap in his teeth.... he was, at that time the most left-wing politician with any power in this country.
also, back then he was certainly a lot more well-intentioned and appeared markedly more genuine than his contemporaries [when he spoke, in person, to the meeting i mean ] ...
i suppose things have changed.... as has he.... and there is not much that a man who wants power back, after it has been, unceremoniously, lost, will not do!

how can we stop the degradation of a person's intent, their soul, in the event they achieve power?

yer can't......not in that swill bin. Don't beat yourself up. Mother Cossack. We(RMT) gave money, wore out shoe leather getting Livingston elected. We learnt not a thing, talk of putting up candidates forming a left party carry the same seeds, in the same ground.

Don't vote It only encourages the bastards. Gives them legitimacy.

[-NW2-]

OP-Left Leanings: The Royal Maritime and Transport union (RMT), has called a 3 day strike, to defend pensions and benefits. The walkout will will involve 1000 workers, who maintain the tube lines.[/QUOTE]

The RAIL and Maritime Transport Union. Not the ROYAL Maritime and Transport Union.

Sorry to be picky, I know its probably just a typing mistake but I know a few members and they definitely wouldnt want to be called the ROYAL anything!

[-NW2-]

yer can't......not in that swill bin. Don't beat yourself up. Mother Cossack. We(RMT) gave money, wore out shoe leather getting Livingston elected. We learnt not a thing, talk of putting up candidates forming a left party carry the same seeds, in the same ground.

Don't vote It only encourages the bastards. Gives them legitimacy.


Arent the RMT working as part of the TUSC coalition in the London assemblie elections? I'll definitely be voting for them.

Agree with your point regarding Labour. Wish my Union would follow yours and stop giving them a penny and help create a left alternative, run democratically by the Unions. Not just bankrolled by them.

[Rainsborough]

Ken Livingstone
Now aged 66, Ken Livingstone made his name as the left-wing leader of the Greater London Authority, taking on the Thatcher government, then he languished on the back benches in the Commons before running against the official Labour candidate for mayor, Frank Dobson, in 2000 and beating him.
He won as Labour candidate in 2004, but remains a divisive figure in the party. If he loses this time, he will be finished.
Strengths
Despite his controversial reputation as "Red Ken", Mr Livingstone is vastly experienced at running the capital over many years, as Greater London Council leader and later mayor.
Bringing in the congestion charge against fierce opposition took real courage and he stood up to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on Tube and bus financing.
His left-wing credentials, anti-war stance and support for minority causes mean he will poll strongly among London's big non-white population.
Despite his differences with many Labour MPs, he also has the party machine campaigning for him.
After George Osborne's unpopular Budget, Labour are also on a roll in the opinion polls, two polls this week giving them leads of 11% and 9%.
Weaknesses
His age, his divisiveness and his controversial tax affairs. Labour MPs report that many voters believe he has had his chance and that having lost four years ago should not be standing again.
He also alienates many moderate Labour supporters. Even he admitted this week that some Labour supporters say they will not vote for him.
And the tax onslaught against his arrangement to pay himself through a company has been hugely damaging.
David Cameron unleashed a relentless attack on his tax affairs at PMQs yesterday. We can expect plenty more of this from the Tories. He also makes offensive gaffes, berating a Jewish journalist and lamenting the killing of Osama bin Laden this week.
Pledges
Labour believe Livingstone's plans to cut Tube and bus fares is a big vote winner. He is promising an overall cut in fares for Londoners of five percent in the autumn of 2012, no further fare rises at all in 2013 and from January 2014 and in subsequent years no fare rises above inflation. Opponents say that is unaffordable.
Mr Livingstone is also pledging to reverse what he claims are cuts in police numbers made by Boris Johnson.http://uk.news.yahoo.com/london-mayor-debate-main-contenders-235702401.html


My hero :rolleyes:. And to think I admired the git back in the late 1980s.

[Left Leanings]

OP-Left Leanings: The Royal Maritime and Transport union (RMT), has called a 3 day strike, to defend pensions and benefits. The walkout will will involve 1000 workers, who maintain the tube lines.

The RAIL and Maritime Transport Union. Not the ROYAL Maritime and Transport Union.

Sorry to be picky, I know its probably just a typing mistake but I know a few members and they definitely wouldnt want to be called the ROYAL anything![/QUOTE]

Haha yeah. I just noticed that. And nope, not too many would want the insult 'Royal' attached to them. Me and my typing...:laugh: