10.06.14
TfL staff to strike over pay and pensions
RMT, TSSA and Unite members at Transport for London (TfL) are going on strike on Friday (13 June) in a dispute on pay and pensions.
Union members have been instructed not to book on for any shifts that commence between 05.59 hours on Friday and 05.58 hours on Saturday 14 June 2014.
The action is, according to the unions, being taken in protest of TFL’s plans to impose its “Pay for Performance” proposals, which they claim would “condemn to staff to a life of poverty in retirement”.
All the unions have stated that the proposed plans would lead to reduced final salary pensions; an immediate pay freeze – stretching over the next five years - for at least 50% of staff; the annual pay round would be placed at the discretion of managers and no longer fully negotiated with the recognised staff unions; and pay rises determined by punitive and discriminatory individual “performance” processes would unleash a “tidal-wave of bullying and harassment”.
Mick Cash, RMT acting general secretary, said: “The current TfL pension proposals are nothing less than a concerted attack on terms and conditions and would have a major effect on the future of the entire TfL Pension Fund. TfL have refused to budge on this important issue despite the staffs clear rejection of their proposals.
“The unions have demanded that TFL immediately withdraw the toxic “Pay For Performance” plans and get back round the table but our concerns have been ignored and that is why further strike action is back on.”
Tricia Riley, TfL HR director, said: “We have been engaging with the trade unions on these issues since November. Should the strike go ahead, there would be no impact on transport services.
“As with arrangements at any modern organisation, our proposed changes will ensure that our non-operational staff, who provide valuable management and support functions, are fairly paid based on their performance and relative to the external jobs market.”
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