London Underground management have cancelled a series of planned meetings with the trade unions to discuss this year’s long overdue pay settlement.
A new deal should have been in place by April, but management have constantly dragged their feet. Although some slow progress had been made, they have adamantly refused to engage with key elements of our claim.
· Underground management have flatly refused to discuss any reduction in working hours that would enable a move towards a four-day week.
· They are insisting on tying all future pay rises to the CPI(H) measure of inflation which is consistently lower than the RPI measure, which has always been used in the past, and is also the measure used for fare rises. This would mean locking in lower pay rises for years to come.
· They have refused to consider increasing the overtime rate despite theTfL franchised Elizabeth line having done so. Elizabeth line and London Overground drivers are on a 34-hour, 4-day week.
· Management’s position is that any changes to pay bands will be entirely at their discretion and will not form part of any agreement.
With negotiations now at an impasse, and the continued refusal to provide the guarantees we have asked for on working conditions and pensions, ASLEF have given statutory notice of our intention to ballot members for industrial action.
Ballot papers will be sent out from next Friday September 6th and we will be encouraging members to Vote Yes and return their ballot papers straight away. Management will not be prepared to negotiate in any serious way unless they know that staff are ready to take action if needed.
If your address or other contact details have changed, or you have not received a ballot paper in the past, please send your up-to-date details to info@aslef.org.uk and your local ASLEF rep or branch secretary.
A strong Yes vote will bring management back to the negotiating table so that we can achieve a fair settlement.
Best regards,
Finn Brennan
ASLEF District Organiser.
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