Tube strike called off
The RMT union has called off next week’s planned tube strike.
In a statement the RMT’s general secretary, Bob Crow said: “Since last night’s emergency talks there have been further detailed exchanges with London Underground, which have now been considered by the RMT executive.
“LUL has indicated that it is now prepared to negotiate seriously on all of our aspirations on pay and conditions, including a shorter working week. The door to a long-term deal remains open.
“As a result, further detailed talks are to be held later this month, and next Thursday’s strike has been suspended,”
Additional talks are also being held with the infrastructure companies Tubelines and Metronet.
The RMT had come under a great deal of criticism for scheduling a strike on the same day as the local, European and mayoral elections.
Ken Livingstone called the decision to strike “unnecessary and unacceptable” whilst Steve Norris and Simon Hughes said they would remove Bob Crow from the board of Transport for London if elected as mayor.
However at the time the union insisted that the strike was not intended to disrupt the elections.
Responding to the strike’s cancellation, Mr Hughes said: “It will be a welcome relief for Londoners that next week will not be disrupted by a Tube strike but cold comfort that the threat has been suspended and not resolved.
“There are serious question to be asked about what carrots were offered by Transport for London to persuade Bob Crow and the RMT to postpone their strike threat until after the election.
“Londoners will want to know what costs will the capital have to face if a private deal has been done in an attempt to save Ken Livingstone’s election campaign.”
RMT members approved strike action after the leadership rejected a three per cent pay offer.
The RMT is arguing for a 32 hour four day week, a substantial pay rise and the restoration of paid meal breaks
Speaking late onThursday night the managing director of London Underground seemed to indicate that agreement is possible.
Tim O’Toole said that he was committed to working for a long term agreement with the union and said: “We understand that a long term settlement will need to cover a range of issues, including the length of the working week, pay, grade structures, later running on Friday and Saturday nights, staffing levels and the impact of new technology.
“Getting all of our staff onto a 35 hour week and considering all options as to how reduced hours translates into different shift patterns are reasonable objectives in a long term agreement, assuming other objectives can be achieved.
“The financial constraints on the Underground mean that changes need as far as possible to be self-financing and in no case must lead to higher fares. In addition, we must provide a higher quality and extended service, and any agreement must address this.”
