ReD_ReBeL
22nd December 2005, 19:58
Fresh talks to avert Tube strike
22 December 2005
Last-ditch talks to avert a crippling New Year's Eve strike on the London Tube are to be held at conciliation service Acas.
Transport for London gave notice of the Acas meeting after the RMT transport union announced that its London Underground (LU) station staff had voted by more than five to one to take industrial action in a dispute over the working week, manning levels and safety.
Following the vote, the RMT called a 24-hour strike starting at 12 noon on New Year's Eve and lasting until 12 noon on New Year's Day.
The union also said a further 24-hour strike would be held from 6.30pm on Sunday January 8 to 6.30pm on Monday January 9.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We have been seeking talks with LU for weeks and we welcome this opportunity to meet them."
Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff.
But announcing the strikes, Mr Crow said the vote had been taken "over Tube bosses' back-door attempts to displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff under spurious cover of the recent 35-hour week deal".
Mr Crow went on: "We are asking LU now to take a step back and withdraw the rosters they are attempting to impose on our members without agreement or safety validation."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone had condemned the strikes, saying there was "no justification for the RMT now reneging" on a previous agreement.
LU stressed that there were no plans to cut any jobs on the Underground and that the 35-hour, five-day working week was something RMT "campaigned for and signed over a year ago and which was endorsed by their general secretary, executive council and Tube membership by a margin of 30 to 1".
Seems like there is a 'strike fever' hitting the world.
22 December 2005
Last-ditch talks to avert a crippling New Year's Eve strike on the London Tube are to be held at conciliation service Acas.
Transport for London gave notice of the Acas meeting after the RMT transport union announced that its London Underground (LU) station staff had voted by more than five to one to take industrial action in a dispute over the working week, manning levels and safety.
Following the vote, the RMT called a 24-hour strike starting at 12 noon on New Year's Eve and lasting until 12 noon on New Year's Day.
The union also said a further 24-hour strike would be held from 6.30pm on Sunday January 8 to 6.30pm on Monday January 9.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "We have been seeking talks with LU for weeks and we welcome this opportunity to meet them."
Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff.
But announcing the strikes, Mr Crow said the vote had been taken "over Tube bosses' back-door attempts to displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff under spurious cover of the recent 35-hour week deal".
Mr Crow went on: "We are asking LU now to take a step back and withdraw the rosters they are attempting to impose on our members without agreement or safety validation."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone had condemned the strikes, saying there was "no justification for the RMT now reneging" on a previous agreement.
LU stressed that there were no plans to cut any jobs on the Underground and that the 35-hour, five-day working week was something RMT "campaigned for and signed over a year ago and which was endorsed by their general secretary, executive council and Tube membership by a margin of 30 to 1".
Seems like there is a 'strike fever' hitting the world.