'Good progress' in talks sees Piccadilly strike date pushed back

BREAKDOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, TRAIN OPERATORS, PICCADILLY LINE – LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/14/2)

Further to my previous Circular (IR/073/16, 17th March 2016), members took part in solidly supported strike action on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th March which closed down the Piccadilly Line. However, management took the aggressive stance of threatening our members that they would lose wages if they refused to book on at Oakwood Depot and the National Executive Committee took the decision to rescind this instruction.

Since then, LU agreed to meet at ACAS and constructive discussions with LUL Directors took place on Friday 8th April. These talks led to an offer of a review of industrial relations on the Piccadilly Line to be led by an ACAS nominated representative on the basis that it will lead to a binding dispute resolution agreement. The Company has also agreed to ‘stay’ the disciplinary procedures against members over booking on at Oakwood and hold a Director’s review over Sister O’Loughlin.

The above represents good progress from management over these issues and the Lead Officer has recommended that the strike action due to take place from Tuesday 19th April is pushed back to allow more time to hopefully come to a firm dispute resolution agreement.

This matter has been considered by the National Executive Committee, which has noted the reports on file and taken the decision to cancel the planned strike action between Tuesday 19th and Friday 22nd April 2016. Instead, affected members are now instructed NOT TO BOOK ON for any shifts that commence between:-

· 12:00 hours on Tuesday 26th April 2016 and 11:59 hours on Wednesday 27th April 2016.

· 12:00 hours on Thursday 28th April 2016 and 11:59 hours on Friday 29th April 2016.

I will keep you advised of all further developments.