It reflects a backlash against efforts to cut budgets as the rail network, as a whole, reels from the impact of lost revenue during the COVID pandemic…reports Asian Lite News
Several days of strike action on the London Underground have been announced from 23 July amid a continuing row over pay and jobs, according to a union.
The RMT said different grades and sections of the Tube would take strike action between Sunday 23 July until Friday 28 July, insisting that its action would “shut down” the parts of the network affected each day.
It added, however, that there would be no strike on Monday 24 July.
The union has been in a long running dispute with Transport for London (TfL) over jobs, cuts and “attacks on pensions and working conditions”.
It said 600 jobs were scheduled to be axed across the system, “leading to the likelihood of more unstaffed stations and a lowering of safety standards”.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch added: “This week of action will shut down the London Underground and show just how important the work of our members is. Plans by TfL to cut 600 jobs and attack our members’ pensions are simply unacceptable.
“We are aware that Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has had the TfL budget cut. However, he needs to align himself with our union and his London Underground staff in pushing back against the Tory government, exposing their damaging agenda to a key part of London transport infrastructure.”
It reflects a backlash against efforts to cut budgets as the rail network, as a whole, reels from the impact of lost revenue during the COVID pandemic.
That central argument has been rejected by unions which have pledged to fight plans to close almost every single ticket office in England.
The RMT, which remains in dispute with train operating companies on pay and conditions issues, has called further strike days for the 20, 22 and 29 July.
TfL was yet to respond to news of the Tube strike dates.
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