News | Transport

Tube strikes 2016: RMT Union announces plan for seven more walkouts starting next week

Strike warning: TfL said it was not sure how many stations would close
Robin de Peyer
5 February 2016

Tube staff have announced a fresh series of 12 and 24-hour strikes beginning next week.

Members of the RMT union will walk out for 24 hours from 6.30am next Friday if the strikes go ahead.

There will then be further stoppages running up to June with a total seven separate strikes planned, the union warned.

Tube strikes February 2016: What we know so far

New strike announced: 24 hours from 6.30am on Friday, February 12 + six more to come

Tube maintenance workers are to stage a series of 12 and 24-hour strikes in a dispute over safety. They will walk out next Friday at 6.30am for 24 hours, followed by six more strikes running up to June.

Night Tube:

RMT bosses have told union members to accept a four-year pay deal of above inflation rises from April last year as well as a £500 bonus to drivers and other staff for the successful introduction of the night Tube.

The Aslef union is also said to be happy with the latest deal.

This will hopefully pave the way for the Night Tube which had been due to start last September.

Transport for London warned the strike would have disrupted Tube services throughout the weekend, with some stations not expected to open at all until at least 9pm on Monday.

Announcing the latest strikes, the RMT said 1,500 maintenance staff were involved in a row over "basic safety issues".

Read More

TfL: we won't know which stations will close until start of strike

TfL: we won't know which stations will close until start of strike

Tube trains to run during weekend strike but stations may not open

Tube trains to run during weekend strike but stations may not open

Everything you need to know about the Tube strike this weekend

Everything you need to know about the Tube strike this weekend

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Nobody should dare to underestimate the severe impact on track safety that the changes bulldozed through by London Underground have unleashed and which have forced our members to take a prolonged period of industrial action to protect both themselves and their colleagues.

"From a situation where everyone knew how to access the track, we now have anarchy and uncertainty. Into this mix we have engineering train movements that we believe will lead to someone being killed and this union will not sit back and wait for a disaster to happen.

"These ill-conceived and lethal changes to track access must be reversed. RMT remains available for talks."

Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer at London Underground, said: "Talks are already planned with the RMT union next week at Acas to resolve this issue.

"Safety is always our top priority and we have robust and comprehensive procedures in place to ensure that any staff working on the track are kept safe and are aware of any train movements.

"We have talked to our trade unions extensively about the changes we have made to track access for engineering work and will continue these discussions next week."

MORE ABOUT

RMT
London Underground