Hundreds of thousands of London
underground passengers face fresh disruption as drivers plan to stage a
strike on Friday on the Central Line.
underground passengers face fresh disruption as drivers plan to stage a
strike on Friday on the Central Line.
The Associated Society of Locomotive
Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) said a second strike by Tube drivers on
the line is also planned for Nov. 7.
Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) said a second strike by Tube drivers on
the line is also planned for Nov. 7.
The strike, organised by Associated
Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen members, threatens to bring
the line, which is used by over 800,000 passengers a day, to a
standstill.
Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen members, threatens to bring
the line, which is used by over 800,000 passengers a day, to a
standstill.
The Central Line is a London Underground metro line that runs through central London, serving 49 stations over 74 km.
Union leaders claim there is a “breakdown
of industrial relations’’ in a long-running dispute with London
Underground (LU) and accused Tube bosses of imposing “unsafe’’ working
practices.
of industrial relations’’ in a long-running dispute with London
Underground (LU) and accused Tube bosses of imposing “unsafe’’ working
practices.
“Industrial action is always the last
resort but, given the intransigence of management on a whole range of
issues affecting our members, we have, reluctantly, decided this is our
only course of action.
resort but, given the intransigence of management on a whole range of
issues affecting our members, we have, reluctantly, decided this is our
only course of action.
“The strike on the Central Line is the
result of management’s failure to deal with the issues our reps have
raised regarding service control problems affecting our members.
result of management’s failure to deal with the issues our reps have
raised regarding service control problems affecting our members.
“Abuse of the attendance at work
procedure, breach of agreements regarding managers driving trains and
abuse of the case conference procedure are other grievances of the
workers.
procedure, breach of agreements regarding managers driving trains and
abuse of the case conference procedure are other grievances of the
workers.
“Harsh and unfair use of the disciplinary
procedure and imposition of new and unsafe ‘flash and dash’ working
practices,’’ ASLEF’s Underground organiser said.
procedure and imposition of new and unsafe ‘flash and dash’ working
practices,’’ ASLEF’s Underground organiser said.
Drivers belonging to the rival RMT
(National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) union could
refuse to cross picket lines, increasing the risk of no service over all
or large parts of the line.
(National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) union could
refuse to cross picket lines, increasing the risk of no service over all
or large parts of the line.
The strike follows four days of
disruption on the Piccadilly Line recently by members of the RMT in a
separate dispute, but the union also blamed a breakdown of industrial
relations.
disruption on the Piccadilly Line recently by members of the RMT in a
separate dispute, but the union also blamed a breakdown of industrial
relations.
