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22 Jun 2010 12:26
Tube Lines urges RMT to reconsider generous three year pay deal
The RMT has today rejected a generous three year pay deal from Tube Lines and is intent on taking strike action designed to hurt ordinary Londoners.
Tube Lines has offered the RMT, and its other recognised Trade Unions, a three year pay deal where employees of operational grades will receive a pay increase of 3.7% in the first year backdated to 1 April 2010 plus 0.5% subject to agreeing productivity changes. The agreement in years two and three will be the retail price index (RPI) plus 0.5% with an underpin of 0.5% guaranteed if RPI falls below 0%.
Andrew Cleaves, Acting Chief Executive of Tube Lines said:
“We are very suprised by the RMT’s decision today to reject a generous three year pay deal when many other organisations within the UK have to take some very difficult decisions to either freeze salaries or cut jobs during this challenging economic climate.
“No-one can question the generosity of our pay offer given today’s financial climate and we remain deeply confused as to the reasoning behind the RMT‘s decision to reject such an offer when ASLEF, TSSA and UNITE have given strong indications that they are prepared to accept the same pay deal.
“We urge the RMT to reconsider its decision and pull back from needless strike action which will not serve the interests of its members nor the millions of passengers who rely on the Tube each day. We remain extremely disappointed by the threat of strike action and will look to seek an injunction.”
In the event that the RMT press ahead with unnecessary strike action then Tube Lines will implement robust contingency plans to support the safe operation of passenger services across each of its three lines. Those plans include operating the Emergency Response Unit should service affecting incidents occur.
Notes to Editors:
RMT members plan to commence strike action between 19.00 hours on Wednesday 23rd June 2010 and 18.59 on Friday 25th June 2010 and between 19.00 hours on Wednesday 14th July and 18.59 hours on Friday 16th July.
Employees that would be covered by Tube Lines' pay offer are all those whose pay is determined by collective bargaining procedures. This includes front line operational staff such as track operatives, signalling staff, train maintenance staff, engineering train operators, lift and escalator fitters and administrative and technical staff who are not on performance-related pay.
For more information contact:
1. Tube Lines is responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the infrastructure on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines. London Underground is responsible for operating the Underground, for employing drivers and station staff, for ticketing and fares, and for the Tube’s safety regime.
2. On 10 May 2010, Tube Lines’ shareholders, Amey and Bechtel announced an agreement for the sale of their equity in the company to Transport for London which will see Tube Lines become a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London. Completion of the sale is expected by end of June 2010.