The threat of strike action by maintenance workers on London Underground has won written guarantees from management over the outsourcing of work, pension rights and travel facilities.
Members of the RMT rail workers’ union at the failed Metronet consortium had called a 48-hour strike to begin on Monday of next week.
Workers were demanding that there would be no further outsourcing of work and a guarantee that, when Metronet comes out of administration and becomes part of Transport for London, workers will be entitled to join its pension fund and enjoy the same travel facilities as its other employees.
A senior manager gave these assurances and the RMT leadership called off the strike.
While welcoming the assurances many workers believe there are further attacks coming down the line.
Unjum Mirza, the branch secretary of RMT’s Stratford Number 1 branch and a Left List candidate for the London assembly, told Socialist Worker, “While it is good that the threat of action has forced management to move, many rank and file tube reps believe more could have been won.
“The deal doesn’t include the crucial issue of further out-sourcing of work.
“While Transport for London is saying there will be no further outsourcing there are reports coming in of exactly that happening.”
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