Transport 'customer experience' staff still fighting for Olympics bonus

RMT union members in Transport for London (TfL) "Customer Experience" centres (travel information centres, contact centres, lost property office, London Transport Museum) have held their second day of strike action on Friday 3 August to demand an Olympics recognition reward.

There were pickets and protests at Victoria travel information centre, Albany House contact centre and TfL HQ Windsor House.

RMT assistant general secretary-elect Steve Hedley has been to the fore throughout our dispute and, as always, was alongside us on the day.

As a "demonstration of their gratitude" management conceded one of our demands and lifted their Olympics/Paralympics ban on annual leave just two days before the strike: far too little, far too late; the damage had been done.

In fact, prior to our decision to ballot, their dinosaur plan was for no annual leave from 25th July through to 9th September - the entire school summer holiday!

And, until earlier in the year, there was an embargo on booking leave for the four months from June to September!

Moreover they have refused to table an offer or even agree to accompany us to ACAS.

As a demonstration of our gratitude, we'd probably look favourably on a 'compensation package' of just 1% of the £80,000 Olympics bonus that top TfL directors stand to rake in!

Of the six TfL unions 'in dispute' only RMT gave its members the opportunity to ballot ... and, with 63% of votes cast in favour of strike action, we have demonstrated through that action that we will not be cowed by a management that treats its staff (and worse still, our partners/families) without the dignity and respect we deserve.

Paul Stevens, RMT member

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 3 August 2012 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

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