Signal as much as Simon Calder’s free journey e-mail for skilled recommendation and money-saving reductions
Get Simon Calder’s Journey e-mail
Commuters in London face but extra transport chaos in April and Might. Prepare drivers on the London Underground will stroll out in a long-running dispute over phrases and situations.
The Aslef union, which represents 9 out of 10 Tube prepare drivers, has referred to as strikes on the London Underground on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 Might.
The commercial motion is more likely to deliver the community to a halt.
Going locations? The prepare drivers’ union, Aslef, has referred to as strikes on the London Underground on Monday 8 April and Saturday 4 Might
(PA Wire)
Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser for the Tube, blamed the walk-out on what he mentioned was the employer’s “failure to provide assurances that adjustments to our members’ phrases and situations is not going to be imposed with out settlement and that every one current agreements can be honoured”.
He mentioned: “They need drivers to work longer shifts, spending as much as 25 per cent extra time within the cab, and to take away all present working agreements within the identify of ‘flexibility and effectivity’.”
“Everybody is aware of what these administration buzz phrases actually imply. It’s about getting folks to work tougher and longer for much less. “
Members of Aslef working for London Underground voted by greater than 98 per cent in favour of strike motion on a turnout of over 70 per cent.
These are the second and third days of motion on the identical situation. A one-day strike in March final 12 months resulted within the closure of just about all of the Tube community.
The strike doesn’t contain prepare drivers on the Elizabeth Line, who’re coated by a separate settlement. Providers on London Overground and the Docklands Gentle Railway also needs to run as regular, although with crowding anticipated.
A Transport for London spokesperson mentioned: “We’ve got been in long-term discussions with our commerce union colleagues on modernise procedures and processes on London Underground to enhance the expertise each for workers and clients.
“We’ve got no plans to impose these adjustments and have dedicated to nobody dropping their job as a part of these adjustments, and we have now engaged with our unions to reveal that no change can be made that compromises our steadfast dedication to security on the Tube community.
“We urge Aslef to proceed discussions with us in order that disruption for Londoners will be averted.”
The Tube motion isn’t related with the broader Aslef dispute with 14 Nationwide Rail prepare operators over pay and situations. There’s nonetheless no signal of a decision to that dispute, with additional strikes referred to as in April.