The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has called off its planned strikes on the London Underground this month.
The news comes following indications from tube bosses that they’ll negotiate on what RMT is calling the “imposition” of a “fake four-day week”.
However, whilst the March strike dates are off, RMT has stated that its industrial action in April and May will still go ahead. Beyond this, the union has also added two new strike dates on 16 and 18 June.
The planned strikes would have taken place from noon on 24 March til 11:59 on 25 March, and the same times on 26-27 March.
The dispute centers on Underground bosses’ proposals for a condensed-hours working week.
Under the proposal, the majority of drivers would work their 36 hours over four days rather than five. However, in the 4-day plan, the workers would receive paid meal breaks.
To put that another way, the workers would see their hours spent driving each day jump from just over 7 to just under 9.
The proposal is currently being tested on a voluntary basis on the Bakerloo line.
When RMT first called the strikes earlier this month, general secretary Eddie Dempsey explained that:
We are clear that these proposals raise serious concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.
Despite our best efforts over many months, no satisfactory outcome has been reached so we have no choice but to call strike dates.
There is still time for London Underground to come up with a workable solution but we will take strike action if we cannot get a negotiated settlement.
Instead, the union is advocating for a 32-hour week over four days. This would see drivers working 3 hours less each week.
However, London Underground has now relented in its position. RMT announced that:
After a year of telling us their imposed plan is non-negotiable they have now agreed to negotiate with RMT.
The dispute over the imposition of a condensed hours four-day week on tube drivers is far from over but LU management have taken steps in the right direction and are now taking the matter seriously.
That being said, unless London Underground can reach a settlement with the union, more strikes are on the way.
RMT has previously announced action for four more 24-hour periods. These will take place on 21 and 23 April, and likewise on 19 and 21 May. Yesterday, 18 March, RMT also announced similar strikes on 16 and 18 June.
Dempsey said:
Through our show of industrial strength and unity, we have forced management into a position where they are now willing to seriously engage with the issues our members want addressing.
Further talks will take place and the dispute remains live.
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Trade unions are essential under capitalism to the bosses. Unions act as wages police, damping down workers’ rightful rage against the exploitation they endure daily. The reputation of some union leaders as supposed socialists is entirely propaganda. We need rank-and-file committees of workers, completely independent of the union bureaucracies, in transport, hospitals, schools, factories and every workplace. Such committees, controlled by workers themselves, can break the isolation and oppose the sellouts imposed by Labour and the unions, and organise a political and industrial counter-offensive aimed at securing decent wages and working conditions, against the relentless cuts.