New Year's Eve tube strike
Once again, a London Underground spokesman who values his life (and not given his name!) has defended the company, and attacked the staff. Seems fair enough on principle, but I thought the frontline staff WERE the life and soul of the company?
New Year's Eve Tube strike talks: LU statement
Following talks between London Underground (LU) and the RMT, LU issued the following statement.
An LU spokesperson said: "We are dismayed that the RMT is once again proposing to hold London to ransom over the festive period.
We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue
LU spokesperson"The whole basis of the shorter working week deal is to improve customer service and staff visibility on the network.
"London Underground has been quite correctly implementing the deal hailed a year ago as 'groundbreaking' by the RMT leadership and supported by the membership by a margin of 30-1.
"The RMT is effectively asking LU to dismantle the process and timetable that implements the deal. This is unacceptable to LU and our customers.
"We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue.
"This agreed deal is good for London Underground, the RMT's members, and is good for London.
"If the strike does go ahead, London Underground will seek to run services where it is safe to do so."
Following talks between London Underground (LU) and the RMT, LU issued the following statement.
An LU spokesperson said: "We are dismayed that the RMT is once again proposing to hold London to ransom over the festive period.
We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue
LU spokesperson"The whole basis of the shorter working week deal is to improve customer service and staff visibility on the network.
"London Underground has been quite correctly implementing the deal hailed a year ago as 'groundbreaking' by the RMT leadership and supported by the membership by a margin of 30-1.
"The RMT is effectively asking LU to dismantle the process and timetable that implements the deal. This is unacceptable to LU and our customers.
"We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue.
"This agreed deal is good for London Underground, the RMT's members, and is good for London.
"If the strike does go ahead, London Underground will seek to run services where it is safe to do so."
But, according to The Institute for Advanced Motorists, it's the staff's fault... via PA News, reported in The Scotsman.
Tube strike 'to put lives at risk'
"As last-ditch talks to avert a crippling New Year's Eve strike on the London Tube got under way, a leading road safety charity warned road users could be put at risk if the walkout goes ahead.
Transport for London bosses are meeting RMT chiefs after the transport union announced its London Underground (LU) station staff had voted by more than five to one to take industrial action in a dispute over the working week, manning levels and safety.
Both sides are attempting to settle the dispute through conciliation service Acas at the Euston Tower building in the capital.
The Institute for Advanced Motorists said the strike threat could put revellers at risk with a surge in drink-drive incidents.
IAM chief executive Christopher Bullock said: "Human nature being what it is, the Tube strike will encourage more people to drive to New Year's Eve parties so that they can get home afterwards.
"They may set off with the intention of not drinking and driving, but alcohol is famous for weakening the inhibitions and that includes the resolve to not do things. We are concerned that the best of resolutions may weaken during the night."
Police services often report a peak of drink-driving incidents around Christmas and the New Year, and the Department for Transport carries additional adverts to dissuade would-be drink-drivers. The most recently available DfT statistics have shown that 590 people died in drink-related accidents in 2004, 10 more than in 2003.
Mr Bullock is urging the RMT to reconsider the strike, saying: "The RMT puts a lot of emphasis on the safety of its members and passengers. But this strike, if it goes ahead, would mean that, with no Tube service on one of the busiest and most alcoholic nights of the year, lives will be put at risk on the roads."
"It is playing Russian roulette with our roads," he added.
The RMT has called a 24-hour strike starting at 12 noon on New Year's Eve and lasting until 12 noon on New Year's Day. The union said a further 24-hour strike would be held from 6.30pm on Sunday January 8 to 6.30pm on Monday January 9."
"As last-ditch talks to avert a crippling New Year's Eve strike on the London Tube got under way, a leading road safety charity warned road users could be put at risk if the walkout goes ahead.
Transport for London bosses are meeting RMT chiefs after the transport union announced its London Underground (LU) station staff had voted by more than five to one to take industrial action in a dispute over the working week, manning levels and safety.
Both sides are attempting to settle the dispute through conciliation service Acas at the Euston Tower building in the capital.
The Institute for Advanced Motorists said the strike threat could put revellers at risk with a surge in drink-drive incidents.
IAM chief executive Christopher Bullock said: "Human nature being what it is, the Tube strike will encourage more people to drive to New Year's Eve parties so that they can get home afterwards.
"They may set off with the intention of not drinking and driving, but alcohol is famous for weakening the inhibitions and that includes the resolve to not do things. We are concerned that the best of resolutions may weaken during the night."
Police services often report a peak of drink-driving incidents around Christmas and the New Year, and the Department for Transport carries additional adverts to dissuade would-be drink-drivers. The most recently available DfT statistics have shown that 590 people died in drink-related accidents in 2004, 10 more than in 2003.
Mr Bullock is urging the RMT to reconsider the strike, saying: "The RMT puts a lot of emphasis on the safety of its members and passengers. But this strike, if it goes ahead, would mean that, with no Tube service on one of the busiest and most alcoholic nights of the year, lives will be put at risk on the roads."
"It is playing Russian roulette with our roads," he added.
The RMT has called a 24-hour strike starting at 12 noon on New Year's Eve and lasting until 12 noon on New Year's Day. The union said a further 24-hour strike would be held from 6.30pm on Sunday January 8 to 6.30pm on Monday January 9."
Now, remember the staff are on strike because ticket office staff (who are a seperate grade on a higher rate of pay) will be doing more basic work (and presumably for less money, although I don't see the RMT accepting that... which may be the route [geddit... oh come on, it's christmas...] of the problem. There will of course be the usual enhanced night bus network, DLR, overground trains, plus a handful of services which do not normally run all night, will do.
posted by Suzy Scott @ 19:56
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