And so it goes, both ASLEF and RMT have announced they
will be holding strike ballots after management declared that there would be no
pay rise at all unless we accepted Night Tube. Rather than negotiating management have invited
the unions to attend “workshops” where they can discuss how to implement the
Night Tube rosters and unsurprisingly the unions have told them where to stick
their “workshops”. Unless management are struck by a Damascene conversion then
sometime in the next few weeks an envelope containing a ballot paper will come
through my letter box, I will duly put my X in the “yes” box and there will be
a strike or two. Sadly I have to
conclude that either a) management actually want a strike or b) they really believe
that we’re going to accept this deal. So
which is it, duplicitous or deranged?
Deliberate provocation in order to push through the Tory threat to declaw the transport unions. And I expect it will go much further than just transport unions.
ReplyDeleteThe Queen's speech is tomorrow, I somehow suspect that alterations to union ballots will be well down the list of priorities and even if it was their No.1 it would be too late to effect this ballot and the resulting strike.
DeleteWell there was mention of a new Trade Unions Bill in it after all. :(
Delete"My government will bring forward legislation to reform trade unions and to protect essential public services against strikes."
DeleteLU's standing on this is so steadfast, I can't but think that they want night tube to not take off and then the drivers can take the blame whilst they "save face".
ReplyDeleteIf imposition of night tube breaks the PTOA then can drivers simply refuse to carry out night tube duties? I'm not against strike action; just trying to understand what the alternatives are (if there any?) before going on strike.
ReplyDelete(Belated, simplistic) Attempt to answer this:From what I gather, even tho' breaks PTOA, if new rotas were imposed by LUL staff be taking action with NO MANDATE if refused to follow them-against law!
DeleteThat's why need a ballot for legitimate action under law.
And that demonstrates how clearly only way to make these people understand how we feel is unfortunately by the ballet box
We invariably achieve more than the required amount for strike action so they can bleat as much as they want.
ReplyDeleteThis action by Boris is the last hurrah before he jumps ship. Well hopefully it'll make him realise that you can't pay scant regard to people's t&c's just so you can push a vanity project through.
The Mail and Standard will be cranking up their propaganda machines as we speak