15.01.13
Trainpeople staff could strike – RMT
Staff working on London Underground’s Trainpeople agency contract are being balloted for strike action, the RMT union has announced.
The staff are demonstrating at St James Park station today against the cancellation of their contract with LU.
LU inherited a contract with Trainpeople agency from Silverlink in 2007, and since then has continued to use agency staff in LU uniform. However, the staff were paid poorly by Trainpeople, RMT argues.
The agency staff organised for equal rights with permanent staff, yet now LU has terminated its contract with Trainpeople.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “The way that ‘Trainpeople’ have used and abused a group of workers who have been “temporary” for five years is a disgrace and RMT will not sit back while this exploitation is allowed to fester on London Underground.
“This dispute also makes a mockery of regulations that are supposed to protect agency staff but which cynical employers can duck and weave their way around with the connivance of both the EU and the British Government.
“RMT wants permanent and direct employment for these low paid workers and we are setting out on a major campaign to achieve just that.”
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