London Underground Job Cuts Dispute 2010-11

TUBE UNION RMT will be leafleting members of the public at Euston station tomorrow (September 7) morning at 8am, in the middle of 24 hours of strike action, to explain the core safety issues at the heart of the current dispute.

RMT will be making the case that the current 800 job losses, amongst station and platform based staff, are the thin end of the wedge as Mayor Boris Johnson and his officials look to slash billions from transport spending in the Capital to pay off the costs of the failed tube privatisation experiment and to meet ConDem government spending targets.

TUBE UNION RMT today accused London Underground of “playing fast and loose” with safety in the run up to strike action starting later today as the union revealed that tube management have issued a call volunteers to try and run services regardless of whether they have the necessary Operational Licences.

The article below appears in the financial pages of the Guardian.

RMT Executive member Olly New said, "Just sometimes - you get a bit of truth from the media. This article from the financial pages of the Guardian makes it clear that the 800 LUL job cuts are only the beginning of a drive to re-structure LUL, cut more jobs and attack trade unionism. This is about investment funding and planned Government cuts to transport and the rest of public services. LUL’s statements about Oyster cards being the reason for the cuts is so much rubbish.

East London Rail Branch RMT sends solidarity greetings and fraternal greetings to all our comrades, brothers and sisters striking to defend safety and jobs on London Underground.

Once again those who stand to lose the most, we find, lead us in our struggles.

We note that those paid telephone-number salaries are set on ripping the heart out of London’s transport network.

LBC is running an online poll about the Tube strikes. Click here to express your view.

When I voted a couple of minutes ago, it was running at a 2:1 majority to the unions!

The Tube strikes will no doubt be a hot topic of conversation on London's radio stations. If you would like to air your views, here are some phone and text numbers.

BBC LONDON Tel: 020 7224 2000 Text: 81333 and start message with word London

LBC Tel: 0845 6060 973 Text: 84850

TALKSPORT Tel: 08717 223344 Text: 81089

CAPITAL FM Tel: 0207 484 8958 Text: 83958

CHOICE FM Tel: 08700 702 969 Text: 61236

SMOOTH FM Tel: 0845 345 1022 Text: 65588

Download the latest issue of 'RMT London Calling' for full details of the strike action, messages of support, and a reminder of the issues!

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download it. Please distribute widely to your workmates.

These talks have now stopped without agreement - latest update here

Talks at conciliation service ACAS got underway today as 10,000 members of London Underground’s two biggest unions begin final preparations for a rolling series of strikes starting on Monday September 6 against plans to axe 800 station and other staff and close ticket-offices. RMT said this morning that there can be no compromise on tube safety and safe staffing levels.

Read the text below. Click '1 attachment' / file name to download as a single-sided leaflet.

Duty Managers Time To Strike! Enough Is Enough!

WHY WE ARE STRIKING: TO DEFEND SERVICES, SAFETY AND JOBS

London Underground plans to:

• get rid of around 800 station staff posts
• reduce ticket office opening times by around 7,500 hours
• carry out essential maintenance checks on trains every four weeks instead of every two weeks
• cut the number of train drivers’ posts