Tube union RMT has announced strike action every weekend on the Night Tube from the start of the New Year through to June.
It says it is in an on-going fight to prevent the “ripping up of staffing arrangements that would wreck the work life balance of drivers”.
RMT members on the Central and Victoria Lines will be taking strike action from Friday 7/1/22 until further notice, not booking on for any duties commencing from 20:30 on any Friday until 08:00 the next day and not booking on for any duties commencing from 20:30 on any Saturday until 08:00 the next day.
A release from the RMT says the union has made it clear that the mandate extends to other lines and will consider broadening the action if London Underground fail to respond.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “If London Underground and the Mayor thought this fight for progressive and family friendly working practices was going away they need to think again.
“Our members have been reballoted and have delivered a solid mandate for action and its the failure of LU and Sadiq Khan to address the grievances at the heart of the dispute that leaves us no option but to confirm the programme of action today.
“RMT has repeatedly put forward cost neutral proposals that would repair the damage unleashed by deleting 200 driver posts and which would dig LU out of this mess. They have ignored us and that approach will have severe consequences for Londoners in the New Year.
“We remain available for further talks.”
In response Transport for London (TfL) says the changes made do not involve any drivers losing their jobs and no Tube driver has been made to change roles if they do not wish to do so.
The statement adds that the changes being made would mean that, on average, a driver on the lines served by the Night Tube would be expected to work up to four Night Tube weekends a year. Drivers already work some late night shifts, whether or not on Night Tube lines.
TfL also says that changes to rostering drivers, which were agreed with all other recognised unions in May 2021, means that Londoners can continue to have certainty that a near-normal service will continue, while also giving drivers the opportunity for full-time work and long-term job certainty.
Nick Dent, Director of Customer Operations at London Underground, said: “We’re disappointed that the RMT is continuing to push for strike action that would cause unnecessary disruption at a time when our customers need us most. We urge the RMT to join us for talks so we can work together to resolve this dispute.”
Photo credit: Transport for London
