Tube companies will likely be disrupted in April and Could as drivers stage two 24-hour strikes.
Drivers who’re members of ASLEF, the prepare drivers’ union which represents 96% of prepare drivers in Britain, will stroll out from their roles on the London Underground over pay and situations.
They may strike on:
Monday 8 April
Saturday 4 Could
Rail strikes additionally happening
Drivers at 16 rail corporations are additionally going to stage a recent wave of strikes, plus a six-day additional time ban, their union ASLEF introduced.
Each strikes are a part of a long-running dispute.
The rail strikes will happen on:
Friday 5 April
Strikes will have an effect on Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, and CrossCountry.
Saturday 6 April
Strikes will have an effect on Chiltern, GWR, LNER, Northern, and TransPennine Trains.
Monday 8 April
Strikes will have an effect on Higher Anglia, c2c, GTR Nice Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Specific, South Western Railway foremost line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line.
Members may even refuse to work their relaxation days from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April.
Why are the strikes taking place?
Finn Brennan, ASLEF’s full-time organiser on the London Underground, mentioned in an announcement: “ASLEF Tube prepare drivers will strike in April and Could in a long-running dispute over London Underground’s failure to provide assurances that modifications to our members’ phrases and situations won’t be imposed with out settlement and that every one current agreements will likely be honoured.
“Regardless of a earlier dedication to withdraw plans for large modifications to drivers’ working situations, London Underground administration has established a full-time staff of managers getting ready to impose their plans.
“They need drivers to work longer shifts, spending as much as 25% extra time within the cab, and to take away all present working agreements within the identify of ‘flexibility and effectivity’.
“Everybody is aware of what these administration buzz phrases actually imply. It is about getting individuals to work tougher and longer for much less.
“Administration has additionally did not ship on commitments given to us on making drivers’ cabs safe, on police numbers on Night time Tube and on coaching.
“Our members merely do not imagine what LU administration tells them anymore. ASLEF are, as all the time, prepared to speak, however we wish to see actual motion from administration – not simply damaged guarantees.”
Transport for London (TfL) mentioned in an announcement: “We now have been in long-term discussions with our commerce union colleagues on learn how to modernise procedures and processes on London Underground to enhance the expertise each for workers and prospects.
“We now have no plans to impose these modifications and have dedicated to nobody shedding their job as a part of these modifications, and we have now engaged with our unions to show that no change will likely be made that compromises our steadfast dedication to security on the Tube community.
“We urge ASLEF to proceed discussions with us in order that disruption for Londoners might be averted.”
Mick Whelan, ASLEF normal secretary, added on the rail strikes: “Final month, after we introduced renewed mandates for industrial motion, as a result of below the Tories’ draconian anti-union legal guidelines we have now to poll our members each six months, we known as on the prepare corporations, and the federal government, to come back to the desk for significant talks to barter a brand new pay deal for prepare drivers who haven’t had a rise in wage since 2019.
“Our members voted overwhelmingly – but once more – for strike motion.”
A Rail Supply Group spokesperson mentioned: “No one wins when industrial motion impacts individuals’s lives and livelihoods, and we are going to work arduous to minimise any disruption to our passengers.
“We wish to resolve this dispute, however the ASLEF management must recognise that hard-pressed taxpayers are persevering with to contribute an additional £54m per week simply to maintain companies operating post-COVID.
“We proceed to hunt an settlement with the ASLEF management and stay open to talks to discover a resolution to this dispute.”
