Socialist Party members in RMT on London Underground
RMT members on London Underground have voted again to renew our strike mandate in defence of jobs, pensions and agreements.
96% voted to strike on a turnout of 56%. Over 50% of all eligible voters were in favour of strike action. We have smashed through the anti-union thresholds for the fourth time in this dispute.
The reballot gives the strongest mandate yet in a dispute that has seen six days of all-grades strike action and additional days to resist 600 job cuts on stations.
The fight to stop management cutting staff on stations has been put into sharp focus in the last few days with a serious assault on an RMT member on a station gate line.
Station staff find themselves lone working more, and unable to cope with reduced staffing levels at busier stations, as a result of the job cuts.
Members who drive trains are now also facing management plans to cut over 300 jobs and enforce flexible working to cover the gaps.
Reorganisations also loom across London Underground’s engineering sector as the Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) management seek over £1 billion in cuts.
On top of all these cuts programmes is the threat to the TfL pension. Management continues to prepare for the transfer of our scheme into the Local Government Pension Scheme, which would cut the pension most TfL members receive by around 30% and increase contribution rates.
RMT members on the tube will now meet on 30 May to consider our next steps. That should include calling on other tube unions to join with us.
The only way to resolve this is for the mayor to refuse to implement pension cuts, and to stop the job cuts and flexible working demands. RMT has challenged the mayor to fight with us for proper funding for public transport in London, not against his tube workers.
Join the discussion: ‘How we fight the anti-union laws’ at the National Shop Stewards Network conference in London on 24 June.
2023 NSSN Conference – Saturday 24 June in Conway Hall, London 11am-4.30pm –Attendance fee £6. You can register on the day at conference or email us in advance via [email protected]
Confirmed speakers so far: NIPSA General Secretary Carmel Gates, BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley, POA General Secretary Steve Gillan, NAPO National Official Annoesjka Valent, GMB Officer Gary Palmer from the victorious #GMBThree
