London Tube workers will go on strike for six consecutive days over pensions, job cuts and working conditions.
The Railroad, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced that underground workers will be off work from Sunday, July 23 to Friday, July 28.
The union said there would be no strikes on Monday, July 24, while workers at different levels would strike the rest of the days.
The strikes are part of a long-running dispute between RMT and Transport for London (TfL).
The action comes in response to plans to cut around 600 jobs in the London Underground, which the union said would affect underground stations and maintenance.
The RMT has also accused TfL bosses of trying to impose a £100m pension cut which it says would make London Underground workers poorer in retirement if accepted. favorable.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show how important the work of our members is.
“TfL’s plan to cut 600 jobs and attack our members’ pensions is simply unacceptable.
“We know that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has cut the TfL budget.
“However, he needs to join our union and his London Underground staff in pushing back the Conservative government, exposing their damaging program to a vital part of London transport infrastructure.”
Glynn Barton, chief executive officer of TfL, said it was “disappointed” by the move and urged union members to reconsider participating in negotiations.
He said: “There are currently no proposals to change the way pensions are arranged and although we are in discussions with union colleagues about a range of proposals to improve the way the Tram operates. underground London, but no employee will lose their job or be required to work overtime.
“We are trying to create a fairer, more efficient London Underground system that works for our employees and for London.
“All stations will always be well staffed and we believe that our proposals will provide an even better and more reliable service to our customers both in terms of stations and services. our train service.”
Union leaders wrote to Mr Khan in April, calling for an end to job losses and other cuts to the London Underground, warning that stations were either closing or no staff because of cost cutting.
In the letter, Mick Lynch wrote: “Terminals closed 2,115 times last year, compared with a pre-pandemic peak of 649.
“Of course, these are just closing numbers. More often, stations will be left open without staff.
Mr Lynch said he was concerned about the “stress” the proposed cuts were putting on Tube workers, given that they faced a third cut in their pensions.
“This situation cannot continue,” he added. I expect you to refuse to cut further spending on the London Underground.”
The new series of strikes comes after nearly a year of train strikes by the RMT and other railway unions.
Unions say any pay offer must reflect the rising cost of living – with the inflation rate having only recently dropped below 10%.
But rail bosses say the sector is under pressure to save money after the pandemic and reforms are needed to afford wage increases and to modernize the railways.
