01.05.19
London Overground workers prepare for further strike action over ‘insulting’ pay freeze
London Overground workers are to stage another walkout over a pay freeze which “effectively means a slide into poverty pay,” the RMT has announced.
Members of the union will walk out for 24 hours on 16 May, their second set of industrial action following a 48-hour walk-out in early April.
The Overground workers, employed by STM, are also considering further industrial action short of strike action.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash: “Travel Safe Officers offer security for passengers and staff against a background of increasing anti-social and violent behaviour on the railways.
“Despite previous rock-solid strike action, the company still refuse to listen and have left us with no option but to confirm a further phase.”
He said its members do an important job on the London Overground and deserve to be paid properly for the work they do, and that RMT remains available for talks and is “ready to enter into serious negotiations in order to resolve the dispute.”
He added: “A pay freeze for workers on a low wage is an insult and represents a pay cut in real terms.
“STM Group believes that they can pay their workers a pittance and get away with it. They are wrong and it is about time they faced up to that reality.”
Rory O’Neill, TfL’s general manager for London Overground, said: “This issue is between the RMT Union and STM Security which provides Travel Safe Officers on the London Overground.
“Measures are in place to ensure a high level of safety and security is maintained for our customers and the London Overground service should industrial action go ahead. We urge all parties to sit down and talk through the issues to try and resolve them as soon as possible.”
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