by Gary Harbord, Secretary, LU Train Grades, personal capacity
RMT members on London Underground have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in our ballot over pay.
96% of our members voted for strike action on an increased turnout. Significantly, RMT’s membership on London Underground has increased by over 400 since we won an extra £30 million in the last pay round, following the threat of strike action.
Photo by Helen Pattison
This proves that when a strong combatative lead is given, workers will respond.
We have a Labour London mayor, Sadiq Khan, and a new Labour government.
And yet London Underground’s latest offer is 4% this year and 1.6%-2.0% next year, way short of our members’ aspirations, and less than has been offered on Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies.
The company is also intent on implementing pay bands, or “pay families” in management speak!
The pay families would allow management to cap pay rises for whatever types of job they choose, meaning that annual pay rises in future would not apply to those members. This proposal from Transport for London and London Underground threatens the right of members to have their pay negotiated by RMT.
In addition, those already in banded pay grades would not get individual pay rises once they have reached the top of their respective pay band.
RMT on London Underground will continue to resist these attacks on our pay, terms and conditions, and ensure a fair deal for our members.
As we go to press, a mass meeting of reps was taking place to discuss the next steps.