LONDON Underground staff will strike for four days this month, in protest of plans to abolish separate pay grades for drivers who work nights.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) announced the move on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 and described the decision as a "cash led move aimed at shunting staff around".
The strikes, which will affect night tube services, will take place tomorrow (Tuesday, August 3) and August 5 while another one will follow on 24 and 26.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: ''RMT is angry and frustrated at the Tube bosses’ refusal to engage in constructive discussions through the offices of ACAS that could resolve this dispute.
''London Underground’s proposals to rip up an agreement that protects 3000 Tube drivers’ work life balance has caused uproar in the depots amongst drivers.
''This breach of trust by an out of touch management abolishes the part time jobs of workers – mainly women – who rely on the flexibility and security they offer while they juggle other commitments."
Read our London Underground strikes live blog below for the latest updates…
- Joseph Gamp
LATEST TWEET FROM RMT OVER STRIKES
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: "Tube union RMT will be joining last ditch ACAS talks this morning with a view to securing a constructive solution to the dispute over the abolition of the Night Tube driver grade with strike action across London set to start at lunchtime tomorrow."
- Joseph Gamp
LAST DITCH TALKS BEING HELD TO AVERT SERIES OF AUGUST STRIKES
Last-ditch talks are being held in a bid to avert a series of strikes by London Underground drivers.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are due to stage a number of 24-hour walkouts, starting on Tuesday, in a row over the grade of Night Tube driver.
Transport for London has warned of disruption to services if the strikes go ahead.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said on Monday: “We believe that there is a deal to be done which recognises the work-life balance and job security of our members, and we are entering the reconvened talks this morning in a positive frame of mind, and we take it that LU management also will be up for a constructive solution to this dispute.
“RMT’s executive has been put on stand-by for any developments emerging from the talks later today.”
- Joseph Gamp
LONDON CONGESTION CHARGE TO BE SCRAPPED IN EVENINGS TO ‘BOOST NIGHTLIFE’
LONDON'S congestion charge is set to be scrapped in the evenings to help boost the capital's pandemic battered nightlife.
The entry fee for cars will be frozen at £15 with a cut-off time of 6pm every night under plans put forward by mayor Sadiq Khan last week.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
PREVIOUS TUBE STRIKE IN 2019 WAS CALLED OFF AFTER LU CALLED OFF PLANS TO CUT TRAIN INSPECTIONS
On May 14, 2019, the union said it suspended the action after LU called off plans to cut train inspections and preparations.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed it had withdrawn its initial proposals.
A TfL spokesman added: "The safety of our staff and customers is always paramount.
"While our proposals did not compromise this, we have decided not to change the frequencies of some less safety critical train checks."
- Joseph Gamp
NIGHT TUBE WORKERS ARE GUARANTEED TO KEEP JOBS, SAYS TFL
TFL has guaranteed there will be no job losses on the Night Tube, which has yet to restart after being suspended at the start of the pandemic.
Night Tube drivers, many of whom only worked part-time, have been given the opportunity to become full-time Tube drivers, with Night Tube duties spread across all drivers.
- Joseph Gamp
'CAUSED UPROAR'
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “RMT is angry and frustrated at the Tube bosses’ refusal to engage in constructive discussions through the offices of ACAS that could resolve this dispute.
“London Underground’s proposals to rip up an agreement that protects 3000 Tube drivers’ work life balance has caused uproar in the depots amongst drivers.
“This breach of trust by an out of touch management abolishes the part time jobs of workers – mainly women – who rely on the flexibility and security they offer while they juggle other commitments.
“That is an equalities issue that the London Mayor should be taking seriously and raising directly with his London Underground senior management.
- Joseph Gamp
TFL IS PREPARING TO RELEASE TRAVEL ADVICE TONIGHT IF THERE IS NO BREAKTHROUGH IN TALKS
TfL is preparing to issue updated travel advice on Monday afternoon if there is no breakthrough.
- Joseph Gamp
MAYOR OF LONDON URGES RMT TO CANCEL STRIKE ACTION
A spokesman for London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I urge the RMT to continue discussions to avoid this disruption to Londoners and the capital.”
- Joseph Gamp
STRIKE IS 'THE LAST THING LONDON NEEDS'
Keith Prince, GLA Conservatives transport spokesman, said: “A four-day Tube strike over the summer is the last thing London needs.
"It will cause massive disruption to Londoners’ lives and grind our city’s recovery to a halt.
“The Mayor has one job to help London recover from Covid – get our city moving again.
"We desperately need to encourage commuters and tourists back into the capital, but his failure to reach an agreement with RMT risks keeping people away.
"This damaging industrial action couldn’t come at a worse time.”
- Joseph Gamp
PLANNED CLOSURES TO TAKE PLACE ON CIRCLE AND DISTRICT LINES BETWEEN AUGUST 4-12
There are also planned closures on the Circle and District lines on August 4-12.]
These are in no way related to the planned strike actions happening this month.
- Joseph Gamp
RMT WENT INTO TALKS 'IN GOOD FAITH' BUT WERE MET 'WITH WALL OF OPPOSITION' BY LONDON UNDERGROUND
The RMT said it entered the discussions "in good faith" only to be met with "a wall of opposition" from London Underground bosses.
Drivers are being urged not to report for duty from midday until midnight at either end of August.
The first will take place on August 3 and 5, and the second walk-out will be on 24 and 26.
- Joseph Gamp
LAST DITCH TALKS BEING HELD TO AVERT SERIES OF AUGUST STRIKES
Last-ditch talks are being held in a bid to avert a series of strikes by London Underground drivers.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union are due to stage a number of 24-hour walkouts, starting on Tuesday, in a row over the grade of Night Tube driver.
Transport for London has warned of disruption to services if the strikes go ahead.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said on Monday: "We believe that there is a deal to be done which recognises the work-life balance and job security of our members, and we are entering the reconvened talks this morning in a positive frame of mind, and we take it that LU management also will be up for a constructive solution to this dispute.
"RMT's executive has been put on stand-by for any developments emerging from the talks later today."
- Joseph Gamp
LONDON UNDERGROUND WORKERS TO WALK OFF THE JOB FOR FOUR DAYS
LONDON Underground workers will strike for four days next month in a night service pay row.
Drivers are walking out in protest against being made to work a combination of day and night shifts, as opposed to having a separate role exclusively for after hours staff.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
PLANS TO SCRAP PAY GRADES 'AIMED AT SHUNTING STAFF AROUND' SAYS RMT
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) described the decision to scrap the separate pay grade as a "cash led move aimed at shunting staff around".
It added that it will "threaten the loss and destroy the work life balance of 3,000 Tube drivers" – particularly women who often rely on part-time, flexible work.
The union proposed the walk-out earlier this month but today confirmed it would go ahead after "the company refused to make any serious progress" in talks with ACAS – a non-departmental public body of the Government.
It said it entered the discussions "in good faith" only to be met with "a wall of opposition" from London Underground bosses.
Drivers are being urged not to report for duty from midday until midnight at either end of August. The first will take place on August 3 and 5, and the second walk-out will be on 24 and 26.
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT HAS THE RMT SAID ABOUT THE TUBE STRIKES THIS MONTH?
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: ''RMT is angry and frustrated at the Tube bosses’ refusal to engage in constructive discussions through the offices of ACAS that could resolve this dispute.
''London Underground’s proposals to rip up an agreement that protects 3000 Tube drivers’ work life balance has caused uproar in the depots amongst drivers.
''This breach of trust by an out of touch management abolishes the part time jobs of workers – mainly women – who rely on the flexibility and security they offer while they juggle other commitments.
''That is an equalities issue that the London Mayor should be taking seriously and raising directly with his London Underground senior management.
''RMT has made serious proposals and a resolution to the dispute is available through discussion. LU Management need to come back to the table this week in order to avoid the need for strike action. The union remains available for serious and constructive talks.''
- Joseph Gamp
ARE THERE ANY OTHER FUTURE TUB STRIKES I NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR?
Currently, there are no other confirmed dates for future tube strikes.
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT LINES ARE AFFECTED?
There will be no or limited services on all lines on the affected days but bus, rail and DLR, should be normal services if not a bit busier because of the tube closures.
There are also planned closures on the Circle and District lines on 4-12 August.
- Joseph Gamp
WHEN ARE THE AUGUST NIGHT TUBE STRIKES?
The tube staff strikes are set to take place in August.
The first walk-out will take place on August 3 to 6 while another one will follow on 24 to 27.
Drivers are being urged not to report for duty from midday until midnight on those dates.
Passengers are being urged to complete any journeys by 1pm on strike days.
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