Tubes To Be Hit By Three Day Strike This Week

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RMT holding industrial action over maintenance safety issues

Over 1,000 maintenance workers on London Underground who are members of the RMT union are to strike this week.

Three days of industrial action are to be held starting at 7am on Friday 17 May by workers based at maintenance depots across London.

How services will operate on the strike days is not clear at this stage. TfL have said they have plans to ensure that disruption would be kept to a minimum. The strike may affect football supporters travelling to Wembley for the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Watford at the weekend.

The union is holding the strike over a planned reduction in inspection frequencies which they say would lead to more Tube train failures and that its members voted by 9-1 in favour of industrial action.

They will be taking a protest to London Mayor Sadiq Khan at City Hall the day before the action starts on Thursday 16 May with the message “no Tory cuts under a Labour Mayor.”

The changes planned include 24 hour safety inspections now set to take part up to 84 days apart and testing on brakes, doors, lighting and safety-critical emergency equipment no longer done on a daily basis with reductions of up to 97% in the frequency of these tests.

The union say with some train operating that are more than 50 years old, more testing not less is required.

General Secretary Mick Cash, "The ballot result showed just how angry Tube staff are at proposals London Underground are attempting to bulldoze through that would decimate the inspection and safety culture on the fleet.

"Despite that result Tube bosses have ignored the workforce and are pressing ahead and it is that intransigence that has left us no option but to confirm industrial action.

"We remain available for genuine and serious talks."

TfL say their proposed changes have been backed by the regulator Office of Road and Rail.

Their spokeswoman said, "The safety of customers and staff is our top priority and our proposals do not compromise this. Train checks will continue daily, with every train thoroughly checked to guarantee safety.

"We have actively consulted with the Trade Unions over this issue and we remain open for discussions on how to resolve this dispute without unnecessary industrial action."

May 12, 2019