A ballot on industrial action in July gives the RMT until January to cause more chaos
The union batting for Tube drivers still has until January to decide whether to strike again, causing more disruption for Londoners as its leader confirmed more industrial action remains on the table. Transport for London (TfL) has invited the the Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) union back to negotiations next week after refusing to back down on its 3.4 per cent pay offer, refusing the union’s demand of a 32-hour working week.
This morning the RMT did not answer questions from MyLondon about the possibility of more strikes, and whether it has exhausted leverage in the negotiation due to the myriad ways commuters defied a lack of London Underground trains. But speaking at the TUC in Brighton on Wednesday (September 10), RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey warned of more walkouts if there is no resolution.
“We take no pleasure in causing disruption but we make no apology for fighting for our members. So if the mayor has any sense, he will reach out to us,” said Mr Dempsey.
Appearing on Times Radio the same day, Mr Dempsey defended striking over pay when Tube drivers already earn between £65,000 to £75,000 a year. Asked if it was reasonable, Mr Dempsey said: “I don’t know how you can say it’s unreasonable to demand that people are well paid and have got decent conditions at work.”
MyLondon asked both sides for a timetable on negotiations and the possibility of more strikes going forward. The RMT said it was not making further comments, while TfL confirmed it has invited the union to a meeting next Wednesday (September 17). Strike action requires a postal ballot to be legal, but there is a six-month mandate that means multiple strikes can be called in the same window.
Recent strikes have either been called off due to a late change in TfL’s position, or only lasted 24-hours. But some Londoners may remember a series of strikes between September and November 2010 over job losses, and a series of strikes between February and April 2014 over ticket office closures, albeit in the era before the Elizabeth line and Lime bikes.
The current ballot (with more than 6,000 of the 10,000 members voting in favour) was declared on July 29, so the mandate continues until the end of January 2026. Legally the RMT must give TfL a two-week notice period of any intended action. If next week’s talks between TfL and the RMT grind to a halt, Londoner’s could be back on buses and two wheels before Christmas.
TfL ‘happy to discuss fatigue’
Claire Mann, Chief Operating Officer at Transport for London (TfL), said: “I’d like to say thank you to our customers and everyone in London for their patience during the RMT’s strike action this week. We have worked hard to operate as much of the transport network as possible, but I know it has been challenging for many people to travel in the capital this week, which has had a huge impact on businesses and hospitality across the city.
“We remain disappointed that the RMT chose to go ahead with this disruptive industrial action despite our fair, affordable pay offer. We have invited them for further talks next Wednesday and hope to reach a resolution to this dispute.
“The RMT has been clear that its main concern is fatigue and we are happy to discuss the many options we have to help our staff manage fatigue. In the meantime, we continue to urge them to put our offer to their members.”
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