22.06.12
RMT union members to strike over Olympics pay
TfL staff are set to strike and to take action short of a strike over an Olympics dispute. The rail union RMT is opposing changes to working conditions, bans on annual leave in certain departments and unacceptable recognition and reward proposals.
Following a ballot in favour of industrial action, RMT has instructed its members:
· not to book on for any duties starting after 21:30 on Sunday 1 July 2012, returning to duties starting after 21:30 on Monday 2 July 2012
· from 19:00 on Sunday 8 July 2012 until 19:00 on Sunday 15 July 2012, not to work any overtime (including rest day working), and to work to contracted hours only
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “These TfL staff will be as busy as anybody else and the attempt to bully them into bans on annual leave and unilateral changes to working conditions for virtually nothing in return is a disgrace.”
The RMT is also balloting members of the First Great Western franchise over “inadequate” Olympics proposals.
Crow added: “RMT members rightly expect that their extra commitment and work over the Olympic games period will be rewarded in line with other Olympics payments that have been negotiated elsewhere in the industry.”
First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood responded: “We are willing to discuss their concerns with a view to reaching a successful conclusion.”
But he added: “For clarity, the RMT is asking for extra money for all on-board and stations staff in the company working during the Olympics from as far and wide as Cornwall, South Wales and the North Cotswolds, regardless of whether they are affected by additional Olympics passengers or not. Quite simply, this is ‘money for nothing’ on a grand scale when we should be celebrating this great national event.”
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