Tube Workers Vote For Action In Service Control Dispute

"This group of workers are absolutely key... the way that they have been treated by the management at a time when the system is under intense pressure is nothing short of shocking." - Bob Crow

TUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that key service control centre staff have voted overwhelmingly for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over jobs and conditions of service.

Proposals by London Underground regarding the move of Piccadilly Line Service Control to Hammersmith Service Control Centre have raised a range of union concerns that the management refuse to address:

• The Wholesale job losses arising from the move to Hammersmith Service Control Centre
• The Non-payment of the Service Operator 3 rate of pay
• The Treatment of ex-apprentice secondee Service Operators
• Staffing cuts for Service Control at Neasden SCC (Jubilee)
• The Lack of any meaningful offer for Service Control staff for the Olympic period
• Hammersmith signal cabin grading
• A Breakdown of machinery of negotiation

As a result papers were sent to members on Monday 28th May 2012 with a recommendation to vote ‘Yes’ for strike action and ‘Yes’ for industrial action short of a strike and members have come back with more than a 70% mandate to strike and 80% for action short of.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This group of workers are absolutely key to delivering the service on the Piccadilly line and sub-surface railway and the way that they have been treated by the management at a time when the system is under intense pressure is nothing short of shocking.

These are the same key staff who keep services running when demand is at a peak and they are the same staff who manage the problems when the lines are hit by breakdowns and failures. They deserve respect for the job that they do and not the imposition of inferior working conditions and the threat to jobs.

RMT executive will consider this result and the union remains available for meaningful talks.”