Staff working for Transport for London are to take industrial action over a pay freeze and cuts in pension provision. The main union at TfL, TSSA, reported before Easter a ballot return showing that nearly 80 per cent of its members were ready to take industrial action.
The RMT and Unite, which also have members at TfL, are ready for action alongside TSSA, though no date has been set. Among the grievances are the non-payment of an increase of 0.5 per cent agreed in 2012.
Meanwhile, as Workers went to press RMT members on London Underground were due to walk out on a 48-hour strike from 9pm on Monday 28 April, followed by a 72-hour stoppage from 9pm on Monday 5 May.
The action is over job cuts, ticket office closures and safety. The RMT says talks have been “wrecked by a combination of management intransigence and the introduction of additional measures that actually worsened the original toxic package”.
Unlike the stoppages in February, the TSSA will not be involved in the current round of tube action. It says progress has been slow “to say the least” but believes strongly that much more is to be gained by continuing negotiations. ■