London bike workers announce 48-hour strike after 100% vote for strike action over pay and conditions

Transport union RMT yesterday confirmed 48-hours of strike action next week on the Serco Barclays bikes after a 100% vote for strike action by the workforce on the London cycle scheme over a range of grievances.

The strike starts at 9pm on Sunday 11 August, with an indefinite overtime ban starting on Tuesday 16 August.

The grievances at the heart of the on-going dispute are:

• The imposition of a 2% pay increase for 2013
• The imposition of shift change patterns
• The continuous bullying and harassment of members
• The company’s refusal to reach a formal agreement on travelling time or on travel allowances

RMT London Transport regional secretary John Reid said: “RMT will not stand aside and watch this group of key transport staff get kicked from pillar to post.

“The London Cycle Hire Scheme is much more than a vanity project and a publicity stunt for the London Mayor, it is now a valuable part of our transport system and the staff should be treated as such.

“The scheme has attracted global publicity but now risks collapsing into chaos through a massive under-investment in staff, bikes and docking stations.

“RMT members have been forced to strike to secure improvements to pay and conditions and to send out the message that they will not be left to take the rap from a bullying management that refuses to take responsibility for its actions.

“This strike action cannot be ignored and we hope that Boris Johnson and his contractors Serco will now meet with RMT to find a fair solution to this dispute.”

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “By voting 100% for strike action RMT members sent out the clearest message to Serco Barclays, the scheme operators, that they are serious about this fight for justice on pay and working conditions on the London cycle scheme.

“However, despite talks with the company we have not been able to make significant progress and so we now have no option but to announce strike dates this month.

“There has been a whole barrage of press reports recently that the so-called Serco ‘Boris Bikes’ are facing severe docking and capacity problems, and yet the staff running the London cycle hire scheme are facing a bullying management who are imposing outrageous changes to conditions of service while denying our members a fair pay increase in recognition of the growing workload.”

Join the picket line at 5.30am on 12 and 13 August at Serco Barclays Cycle Hire, 15 Penton Street, London N1 9PU, near Angel Tube

Justice for the 33 demo

Join the demo on 12 August outside London Bridge station, Tooley Street exit at 8am, marching to London City Hall

Show unity in struggle with our comrades who were dismissed eight months ago for standing up for their rights.

As agency workers they were used, abused and then thrown out. We demand that they are given jobs by London Underground.

Click here to find out more about the J33 campaign