RMT Strike affecting London Underground services from 23rd to 28th July; ASLEF Strike action on 26th and 28th July. (Strike now suspended)

[Silver Cobra]

I just spotted on the BBC News website that the RMT have announced 6 days of strike action on London Underground from Sunday 23rd July until Friday 28th July.

Tube strike: Week of disruption to hit services, RMT says

Week of strikes to hit Tube services from 23 July in row over pensions and job cuts, RMT union says.

www.bbc.co.uk

London Underground workers will strike for almost a week from Sunday 23 July until Friday 28 July, the RMT union has announced.
The row is over pensions, job cuts and working conditions which the union said could put 600 positions at risk.
It is the latest escalation in a long-running dispute between the RMT and Transport for London (TfL).
In March, thousands of London Underground workers walked out over the same issues.
The RMT has not yet confirmed which groups of workers will strike on which day, nor whether the action will last for a solid six days.
TfL said it was "disappointed" by the union's decision to take strike action.
Glynn Barton, chief operating officer for TfL said: "There are no current proposals to change pension arrangements and, although we are discussing with union colleagues a range of proposals to improve how London Underground operates, no employee will lose their job or be asked to work additional hours."
But the RMT said staff stood to be poorer in retirement if proposed changes by TfL go ahead, claiming they will lose up to 30% of their pension pot.


The row comes after passenger numbers failed to recover after the pandemic which led TfL to claim it needs to make £900m in savings.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show just how important the work of our members is."
The union's industrial action began last year and has led to a lot of disruption to services.
However, this will be the longest strike to date in a sign of worsening relations between unions and tube bosses.

It's interesting that the RMT have chosen dates that coincide with the strike action on National Rail services on 22nd and 29th July, effectively leading to 8 days of strike action spread between both networks.

**EDIT: ASLEF have announced that they will also be engaging in strike action alongside the RMT on the 26th and 28th July.

ASLEF members on London Underground will strike on Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th of July.

This afternoon the Executive Committee of ASLEF the train drivers union has decided to give London Underground notice that our members across London Underground will strike on Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th of July.Colleagues in the RMT will be taking action at the same time.Our strategy has...

www.aslefdistrict8.org

ASLEF members on London Underground will strike on Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th of July.
This afternoon the Executive Committee of ASLEF the train drivers union has decided to give London Underground notice that our members across London Underground will strike on Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th of July.


Colleagues in the RMT will be taking action at the same time.


Our strategy has always been to take action only when needed. The last few weeks have shown that management are determined to try to push through detrimental changes despite trade union opposition if they can get away with it.


They have already announced that they intend to start training managers on a new attendance procedure in August and implement it from January, ignoring the current agreed procedure.


The new procedure would mean no right to representation or appeal at stage one and the length of all warnings doubled from 26 to 52 weeks. All sickness longer than one week would be regarded as “long term” meaning that your manager can send you to redeployment without any further meeting. After just six weeks in deployment you can be terminated.


Management also want to force through their plans for “trains modernisation”. They want unrestricted remote booking on and off, driving shifts up to 10 hours long, “flexible cover” weeks in every roster and fixed links to be scrapped. That would make it impossible to organise your life outside work or to have an effective change over system.


TfL senior management have no problem finding money for their own bonuses but their aim is an entirely flexible workforce with all existing agreements replaced allowing them to cut hundreds more jobs and forcing those who remain to work harder for longer.


To protect our pensions, our working conditions and agreements we need to act. We have to show management that we will not just allow them to use the pandemic and government funding agreements to undermine everything we have achieved in the past.


ASLEF members in London Underground including management grades, London Underground APD and LU Test Trains not to book for any duty between 00.01 and 23.59 on Wednesday 26th and any duty between 00.01 and 23.59 Friday 28th of July.


Finn Brennan

ASLEF District Organiser.

 

[Thirteen]

Bit strange that the RMT is doing a week on the London Underground but is limited to only a few days a month for TOCs.

 

[Horizon22]

What are these proposed pension changes? Are we not to trust the line from the COO that literally says

There are no current proposals to change pension arrangements

This will affect a few integrated operators too, such as the Elizabeth line, Overground and probably Chiltern.

 

[Thirteen]

What are these proposed pension changes? Are we not to trust the line from the COO that literally says



This will affect a few integrated operators too, such as the Elizabeth line, Overground and probably Chiltern.

The RMT and LUL/TfL have never had the best of relationships but this dispute doesn't really have any sort of resolution because TfL have already said they're not touching the pensions nor are there are redundancies planned aside from not filling vacancies.

 

[westv]

It does seem these strikes don't have anywhere near the impact they would have done a decade or more ago. Not to say that individual people will not be greatly inconvenienced but, overall, no.

 

[Horizon22]

The RMT and LUL/TfL have never had the best of relationships but this dispute doesn't really have any sort of resolution because TfL have already said they're not touching the pensions nor are there are redundancies planned aside from not filling vacancies.

That's my thoughts. So I'm wondering what it will achieve. Unless its to force better pay talks and the pensions stuff is just bluster. TfL definitely isn't in the best financial position although its not quite as bad as it was a year or so ago.

It does seem these strikes don't have anywhere near the impact they would have done a decade or more ago. Not to say that individual people will not be greatly inconvenienced but, overall, no.

I think London is a bit different from the strikes on the National Rail network. Still very heavy reliance on these modes where cars aren't an option and people will be left behind at bus stops. The one last year (August or September?) was still quite difficult. But yes, of course it won't be the same level now that the WFH cat is well and truly out of the bag.

 

[bramling]

What are these proposed pension changes? Are we not to trust the line from the COO

TFL are stretching semantics to the absolute limits on this one.

Part of TFL’s funding agreement with the government is to undertake a review of the pension scheme. A report has already been published with various options.

So yes it may be technically correct for TFL to say they have no plans to change the pension scheme *at this moment*, but it’s abundantly clear that serious work is going on behind the scenes. In fairness to TFL, this is more at the bequest of the government than TFL’s own doing.

The other big thing going on in TFL is a proposal to make significant changes to the working arrangements for train operators. Expect to see *much* more on that one over the coming year or two.

So, are there plans to change the pension scheme? At the moment it’s just about correct to say the answer is no. Is TFL looking at options to change the pension scheme? Absolutely *yes*. I’ll leave it for people to decide if the COO is being entirely honest there.

 

[Horizon22]

TFL are stretching semantics to the absolute limits on this one.

Part of TFL’s funding agreement with the government is to undertake a review of the pension scheme. A report has already been published with various options.

So yes it may be technically correct for TFL to say they have no plans to change the pension scheme *at this moment*, but it’s abundantly clear that serious work is going on behind the scenes. In fairness to TFL, this is more at the bequest of the government than TFL’s own doing.

The other big thing going on in TFL is a proposal to make significant changes to the working arrangements for train operators. Expect to see *much* more on that one over the coming year or two.

So, are there plans to change the pension scheme? At the moment it’s just about correct to say the answer is no. Is TFL looking at options to change the pension scheme? Absolutely *yes*. I’ll leave it for people to decide if the COO is being entirely honest there.

Thanks. As always there's three sides in any story, with the truth being somewhere in the middle.

I wouldn't be surprised if most railway / rail transport operators are looking at the pension schemes for the future (i.e new starters), being one of the most generous in the whole country,

 

[Thirteen]

That's my thoughts. So I'm wondering what it will achieve. Unless its to force better pay talks and the pensions stuff is just bluster. TfL definitely isn't in the best financial position although its not quite as bad as it was a year or so ago.



I think London is a bit different from the strikes on the National Rail network. Still very heavy reliance on these modes where cars aren't an option and people will be left behind at bus stops. The one last year (August or September?) was still quite difficult. But yes, of course it won't be the same level now that the WFH cat is well and truly out of the bag.

If it was about pay, the RMT should be upfront about it, I am with them on the TOC dispute which should have been solved ages ago but I can't get behind them with their dispute with TfL because Sadiq Khan has his hands tied.

A six day strike doesn't solve anything but annoy commuters, they can cope with a day or two but a week doesn't give the RMT much if any support especially because they're not giving any leverage to call off this strike.

 

[Mawkie]

Unless its to force better pay talks and the pensions stuff is just bluster.

The pay talks are an entirely different dispute and LU have not made their "full and final" offer yet. Let's not cloud the issue here.

 

[Mojo]

Bit strange that the RMT is doing a week on the London Underground but is limited to only a few days a month for TOCs.

From the RMT press release and circular issued to members yesterday, it is implied that different grades / locations will take action on different dates, rather than everyone walking out for a week

Thhe Lead Officer has consulted with your Reps and reports unanimous support for a programme of industrial action over a week commencing Sunday 23rd July. The National Executive Committee has considered this matter today and I will write to you again tomorrow with full details of the times and dates of your specific strike action.

Rolling Tube strike action called across week

6th July 2023 Dear RMT Members DEFEND JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS - LONDON UNDERGROUND ROLLING STRIKE ACTION CALLED FROM Sunday 23rd July TO Friday 28th July 2023 The Union recently became aware of several significant developments in this dispute, including: A consultation exercise to discuss...

www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk

 

[Thirteen]

From the RMT press release and circular issued to members yesterday, it is implied that different grades / locations will take action on different dates, rather than everyone walking out for a week

Rolling Tube strike action called across week

6th July 2023 Dear RMT Members DEFEND JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS - LONDON UNDERGROUND ROLLING STRIKE ACTION CALLED FROM Sunday 23rd July TO Friday 28th July 2023 The Union recently became aware of several significant developments in this dispute, including: A consultation exercise to discuss...

www.rmtlondoncalling.org.uk

That makes more sense than a full on week which would mean losing a lot of money although I noticed they're not striking on the 24th July.

 

[bramling]

If it was about pay, the RMT should be upfront about it, I am with them on the TOC dispute which should have been solved ages ago but I can't get behind them with their dispute with TfL because Sadiq Khan has his hands tied.

A six day strike doesn't solve anything but annoy commuters, they can cope with a day or two but a week doesn't give the RMT much if any support especially because they're not giving any leverage to call off this strike.

It isn’t about pay. The big issues are
* changes to pension arrangements clearly being investigated behind the scenes (and there’s no doubt that’s going on, there’s even a report been published)
* changes to working arrangements for train operators
* cuts to station staffing levels

Pay may well become a salient issue in due course, but this isn’t the issue at the moment.

Whilst the government may well be ringleading all this with TFL caught in the middle, TFL’s notoriously bull-in-a-china-shop employee relations certainly won’t be helping.

 

[Snow1964]

Whilst there might be options for changing pensions being considered, although nothing to say changes Will definitely be attempted to happen, I am baffled how existing employees can lose upto 30% of their pension pot. Normally can't do this retrospectively

But the RMT said staff stood to be poorer in retirement if proposed changes by TfL go ahead, claiming they will lose up to 30% of their pension pot.

Tube strike: Week of disruption to hit services, RMT says

Week of strikes to hit Tube services from 23 July in row over pensions and job cuts, RMT union says.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Dstock7080]

I am baffled how existing employees can lose upto 30% of their pension pot. Normally can't do this retrospectively

It has been rumoured that it is possible to heavily reduce the TfL contribution towards the pension, from the very generous level now. This could be invoked retrospectively for existing Members.
Existing members contributions would not be affected.

 

[Mawkie]

It isn’t about pay. The big issues are
* changes to pension arrangements clearly being investigated behind the scenes (and there’s no doubt that’s going on, there’s even a report been published)
* changes to working arrangements for train operators
* cuts to station staffing levels

Pay may well become a salient issue in due course, but this isn’t the issue at the moment.

Whilst the government may well be ringleading all this with TFL caught in the middle, TFL’s notoriously bull-in-a-china-shop employee relations certainly won’t be helping.

You forgot the outrageous new Attendance at Work policy, that deems you '"long term sick" after 7 days, and where 2 periods of sickness per year would trigger the disciplinary process.

 

[bramling]

You forgot the outrageous new Attendance at Work policy, that deems you '"long term sick" after 7 days, and where 2 periods of sickness per year would trigger the disciplinary process.

I was including in that as part of the new working arrangements, but yes fully agree that’s highly likely to become very salient in coming weeks and months too. It actually seems like the powers that be are going out of their way to antagonise staff, maybe they want all the existing staff to leave and be relaxed with Carlisle Security types.

 

[357]

2 periods of sickness per year would trigger the disciplinary process.

Yet people don't understand why the Overground driver who hit the buffers didn't want to tell the company he hadn't slept.

 

[Jturner98]

Sorry if it’s been covered elsewhere but on the strike days will it be reduced service or no service on all lines? Thanks

 

[bramling]

Yet people don't understand why the Overground driver who hit the buffers didn't want to tell the company he hadn't slept.

As ever, the flip side of the coin is that processes are open to abuse. One does at times wonder what goes wrong at the recruitment stage for the industry to end up with what seems like more than its fair share of problem people. Or, to put it another way, “what on earth were they thinking when they took *that* person on?”.

Reconciling all this is extremely difficult, not helped by TFL’s well-known poor management.

 

[Snow1964]

It has been rumoured that it is possible to heavily reduce the TfL contribution towards the pension, from the very generous level now. This could be invoked retrospectively for existing Members.
Existing members contributions would not be affected.

TfL aren't 100% daft, they would be aware that under current legislation, can retire anytime from 55, and if they weren't able to do the changes overnight (which they wouldn't be able to do as they don't control the pension fund, trustees do), huge numbers of staff aged 55 and above might cut and run with current arrangement if they thought would lose what is already accrued. So much more likely would be applied from a change date with each scheme prorated.

I have a similar thing on one of my company pensions, were the rates are different for each year of service upto about 1999, then different accrual rates for years afterwards, they can't backdate what is already earned or steal out of the existing pension pot, Robert Maxwell did this from Mirror Group pensions and it caused the pensions legislation to be tightened up so can't happen anymore. That's not to say companies can't agree lower contribution rate from a forward date. But they cannot reduce what's already there.

 

[321over360]

It isn’t about pay. The big issues are

* cuts to station staffing levels

Is it even possible to cut Station Staffing levels anymore? As Boris during his time as Mayor reduced the amount of station staff to bare minimum which has accounted for station closures

 

[bramling]

Is it even possible to cut Station Staffing levels anymore? As Boris during his time as Mayor reduced the amount of station staff to bare minimum which has accounted for station closures

Anything is possible, but decisions have consequences.

Were numbers to be cut further then it would be a case of

* more unplanned closures

or

* having to change requirements on minimum staffing levels

In the case of open-air stations it would be possible to have more stations left unmanned, either on a planned or unplanned basis.

 

[Snow1964]

RMT seem to be leaving it late to define the strike action, so far they have called it Rolling strike action from Sunday 23rd

I am fairly sure that the rules requiring 14 days notice, require more detail of where and when (start and finish times, and which depots or lines etc), unless they mean it is all out for full 6 days.

Presumably if this detail is not made public today (and there are only 5 hours left), then an intermittent strike cannot commence on Sunday 23rd

 

[SunSeeker]

RMT seem to be leaving it late to define the strike action, so far they have called it Rolling strike action from Sunday 23rd

I am fairly sure that the rules requiring 14 days notice, require more detail of where and when (start and finish times, and which depots or lines etc), unless they mean it is all out for full 6 days.

Presumably if this detail is not made public today (and there are only 5 hours left), then an intermittent strike cannot commence on Sunday 23rd

DEFEND JOBS, PENSIONS & AGREEMENTS – LONDON UNDERGROUND

www.rmt.org.uk

They already gave all that information yesterday. RMT members get instant SMS/emails anyway with instructions.

Its about time a whole weeks strike/shutdown happened as things have been going down hill for a while now. Problem is TfL management have basically stuck 2 fingers up to all other staff and are pushing through with changes without a care in the world for the people actually doing the job, so they can get their bonuses.

 

[infobleep]

TFL are stretching semantics to the absolute limits on this one.

Part of TFL’s funding agreement with the government is to undertake a review of the pension scheme. A report has already been published with various options.

So yes it may be technically correct for TFL to say they have no plans to change the pension scheme *at this moment*, but it’s abundantly clear that serious work is going on behind the scenes. In fairness to TFL, this is more at the bequest of the government than TFL’s own doing.

The other big thing going on in TFL is a proposal to make significant changes to the working arrangements for train operators. Expect to see *much* more on that one over the coming year or two.

So, are there plans to change the pension scheme? At the moment it’s just about correct to say the answer is no. Is TFL looking at options to change the pension scheme? Absolutely *yes*. I’ll leave it for people to decide if the COO is being entirely honest there.

If at the bequest of the time government, why not just say that.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Strange timing, at least in respect of the Bakerloo Line.
There's a major closure (in 4 phases) running from Sunday 23rd July anyway, so regular commuters will already have been making plans to travel by alternate routes/modes whilst the line beyond Queens Park, to Harrow & Wealdstone is closed.

 

[Thirteen]

There's been documents about looking into reforming pensions through the various correspondents between the Mayor and various Transport Secretary so it's not exactly a secret.

I just can't see how this dispute can be resolved because the Mayor literally can't do anything about it unless the next Government decides to give TfL back its subsidy.

 

[Mawkie]

Strange timing, at least in respect of the Bakerloo Line.
There's a major closure (in 4 phases) running from Sunday 23rd July anyway, so regular commuters will already have been making plans to travel by alternate routes/modes whilst the line beyond Queens Park, to Harrow & Wealdstone is closed.

It's hugely expensive to plan and implement engineering work - sometimes planned a year in advance.

No engineering trains can run without track access controllers, signallers, power/control staff, emergency response unit staff, etc.

This is a company-wide dispute, not just station staff and train operators.

There's been documents about looking into reforming pensions through the various correspondents between the Mayor and various Transport Secretary so it's not exactly a secret.

I just can't see how this dispute can be resolved because the Mayor literally can't do anything about it unless the next Government decides to give TfL back its subsidy.

The pension fund is not in deficit - their own report had to admit that it was an extremely well run scheme.

TfL still have 'do nothing' on the cards, but it's the endless pushing from central government for reform that is driving the changes. Indeed, from the letters I've read, TfL don't appear to believe change is necessary. You reference correspondence in your post, and I've attached a letter from Andy Lord to HMG from March 2023, that states quite boldly, that some support from central government will be required whatever option is taken for change.

This is an entirely political construct and nothing else. I don't see any Tory MPs suggesting their own 'gold-plated pension" should be reformed....

Of course this dispute is about far more than pensions, and that has been covered well up-thread.

[edited to add link to document source: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/independent-pensions-review]

 

[Goldfish62]

Yet people don't understand why the Overground driver who hit the buffers didn't want to tell the company he hadn't slept.

Completely different company - Arriva Rail London.