Firstly let me apologise about any disruption to your travel but London Underground and TfL have deliberately provoked the dispute on the tube network:
· On London Underground, bosses are threatening to tear up an agreement aimed at safeguarding jobs, and have refused to rule out compulsory redundancies. 1000 jobs are at risk on LUL and up to 3000 on TfL as part of a £2.4 billion cuts package.
· LUL has also refused to budge from an unprecedented five-year pay offer that gives no real-terms increase for four years, and which could even see a substantial pay cut as it's linked to deflation. Management deliberately made this offer knowing it would be unacceptable.
· There have been so many sackings and complaints of breaches of disciplinary and attendance procedures they appear co-ordinated. Bullying of staff is rife.
· RMT has exposed the hypocrisy of senior tube managers on pay where a 123 of the top bosses are paid over £100,000 plus bonuses. It is those same managers who are attacking RMT members over their campaign for job security and a living wage.
RMT wants this dispute resolved. We have been stonewalled by tube managers at every turn and that's why we have called for direct talks with London Mayor Boris Johnson - we are still waiting for a response. RMT is committed ·to a modern and safe public transport system for Londoners. That cannot be achieved by axing jobs, slashing rates of pay and imposing massive cutbacks while the senior managers scoop the pay and bonuses jackpot. The bankers and the City of London were bailed out to the tune of billions by the Government after they drove the economy over a cliff - RMT is demanding the tube workers and
passengers do not pay the bill for the bankers!
Thank you,
Steve Hedley, regional organiser, RMT.