Tube and Overground strikes hit London travel

London’s Tube and Overground services are heavily affected by strikes which are taking place today (Friday) between days of action on the wider UK rail network on Thursday and Saturday.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that London Overground and Underground workers were taking action to protect their pensions, secure a decent pay rise, job security and good working conditions. 

“Tube bosses are having secret negotiations with the government about slashing jobs and undermining working conditions and pensions all in the name of removing subsidies,” he said alleged.

“This government-led assault on staff will be disastrous as no other comparable urban transport system in the world operates without financial support from central government to ensure good and reliable services.

“The government needs to stop trying to get services on the cheap by slashing jobs and wages and invest in what should be a world class transport network.”

In turn, Sadiq Khan passed blame on rather than refuting it, accusing the UK Government of “provoking industrial action.”

Grant Shapps told Sky News that union bosses should “get out of the way” and allow its members to vote on proposed pay deals.

“…the bosses, for example, the boss of the RMT, simply make the decision without going out to their membership to ask them whether they would like to settle this and get back to work,” Shapps said.

He gave an instance of an 8% pay offer — which was for Network Rail workers, saying staff needed the chance to vote on it.

“Our people deserve a pay rise”

Yesterday, as the RMT took action on train operators and at Network Rail, along with TSSA members, the MD of Southeastern Railway, Steve White, said that staff were entitled to a bump in their pay.

He said on Twitter: “Does any railway colleague or customer really want this to last for months? Time for a ceasefire. Our people deserve a pay rise and job security. Our industry exists to serve our customers and our communities. More talks are needed, then some more and then some more.”

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