Victoria Line Drivers Balloted For Strike Over Range Of Grievances

Tube union RMT confirmed today that train crew members on the Victoria Line are to be balloted for strike action over a range of grievances that amount to a total breakdown in industrial relations:

  • Forcing Drivers to work overtime. Drivers being made to start a duty which would result in them working beyond their finishing time.
  • Failing to hold meetings requested by members such as flexible working requests, grievance hearings, and disciplinary appeal hearings.
  • Trying to conduct meetings without the full level 1 rep in attendance.
  • Failure to address our concerns relating to duty schedules.
  • Refusal of reasonable requests for annual leave.
  • Failing to properly review secondments.
    Breaching the Attendance at Work policy by counting items such as dependency leave towards disciplinary action.
  • Inaccurate application of the Lateness Agreement/policy.
  • Contacting and hassling drivers while they are off sick and not adhering to the mutual contact arrangements agreed with them as per Attendance at Work policy.
  • Denial of reasonable requests for release from duty for our reps to represent members.
  • Members being asked by managers to breach framework agreement outside the agreed criteria.

The ballot will conclude on 28th August.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"Despite the best efforts of RMT representatives to resolve a catalogue of complaints, the management side have refused point blank to make any progress and the list of grievances has now stacked up to the point where it represents a total breakdown in industrial relations and we are left with no option but to commence a ballot for strike action.

"RMT has made it clear repeatedly to London Underground management that we will not allow the abuse of agreed procedures and that RMT will not sit back and allow a culture of bullying and harassment to take hold. No one should underestimate the level of anger amongst staff and their determination to resolve this dispute.

"RMT remains available for meaningful talks and as the ballot proceeds the ball is now firmly in the companies court."