More industrial action on the Tube network

I am starting to lose track (pun intended) of how many different bits of industrial action are currently taking place, or being planned on the London Underground. Maybe I should start compiling a spreadsheet?

Anyhow, yet another vote, and yet more industrial action was announced yesterday (on the 13th!) - this time for "action short of a strike".

Pointedly, and for the first time in ages, the statement from the RMT noted that turnout was over the magical 50% mark that Mayor Boris suggests should be the minimum for a ballot to be valid. The RMT used to publish the turnout figures, but some years ago stopped doing so, and when I once asked for the turnout figures got a rather terse reply back from their media office.

Commenting on the current dispute, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT members have been forced into a position where they have no choice but to take action on behalf of Londoners who depend daily on a safe transport system.”

Whether Londoners are quite as appreciative of Bob Crow's actions as he thinks when strikes shut down the network next month is possibly a matter for debate.

Fortunately, news media reports yesterday suggest that the talks over staffing cuts in stations might have gone well, and that some sort of resolution could be possible. We might just be able to avoid the strikes next month if that proves to be correct.

London Underground; Tube Posted by IanVisits Thursday, October 14, 2010 Permalink COMMENT HERE
Tweet http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-industrial-action-on-tube-network.html