Transport for London, the city agency that operates buses and underground trains, may face a union strike in a dispute over job cuts and pay.The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers will ask about 10,000 members who work at the agency to vote on whether to strike, the union said in an e-mailed statement. The vote will take place between tomorrow and April 8. A possible strike date hasn’t been set.
The union opposes Mayor Boris Johnson’s plan, announced in January, to cut around 1,000 positions and trim spending to reduce a deficit in Transport for London’s budget. The union said as many as 3,000 workers may be dismissed. It’s also protesting a proposed five-year pay offer from the city that includes a pay freeze, the union said.To avert a strike, Transport for London “should withdraw their plans to slash jobs and guarantee there will be no forced redundancies” and “start talking seriously about pay,” said Bob Crow, general secretary of the union.
Transport for London is “disappointed” in the union’s strike vote plan, according to a statement.No staff working on trains, in stations or on maintenance will lose their jobs, though the agency wants to end “duplication” of roles, Transport for London said.“We seek a further and affordable long-term pay agreement that seeks to provide stability for our staff in a period of great financial uncertainty,” the agency said.
The union has on some previous occasions reached last- minute agreements with Transport for London and canceled planned strikes. In a 2007 dispute, the union targeted and shut down nine of London Underground’s 12 lines.
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