22.09.15
Waterloo & City Tube workers to strike over re-grading row
Tube workers are to stage a two-day strike action in the Waterloo and City service following a long-running dispute with London Underground management over re-grading of job roles.
Control staff in this service will not book on for shifts between 28 September at 9pm and 30 September at 11pm.
The RMT union is speaking out against LU’s “total and abject failure” to address key re-grading problems for this staff group and the attempt to change staff duties without previous agreement.
RMT general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “LUL management must be clear by now on our members’ legitimate and reasonable demand for re-grading. The union has reiterated that we will not accept an offer which is based on a change in staff duties or which would cause a detriment to other members.
“Although LUL has declined our request for arbitration at ACAS, they are aware that as always we remain available for talks to resolve the dispute.”
But Peter McNaught, LU's operations director for the Waterloo & City line, said: "We are working on our resilience plan to minimise the impact on the line should this unnecessary strike action go ahead. We’ve been in extensive discussions with the RMT over this issue during the past year and we’ve presented various options to bring this dispute to an end. These have included exploring development opportunities to help progress the careers of the staff concerned as well as allocating additional responsibilities that would justify a salary increase.
“Unfortunately all of these options have been rejected outright by the RMT who appear determined to demand more money for no additional work or responsibility. We remain committed to discussions with the RMT representatives and I urge them to consider the options we’ve proposed rather than threaten industrial action."