London’s Back To Normal (Because There’s A Tube Strike Tomorrow)

Transport for London have advised passengers that they will run a ‘significantly reduced’ service at some times and that they won’t be running other services at all during the strike. To avoid the brewing chaos we’re all advised to take our last tube journey before 1pm on Tuesday and the same again on Thursday.

TfL are planning to scrap the pay grade of Night Tube drivers…

The issue? TfL are planning to scrap the pay grade of Night Tube drivers. Currently Night Tube drivers are part time (the Night Tube only runs between Thursday and Saturdays) and a severely cash strapped TfL is apparently looking for ways to save cash by instead rostering their current pool of drivers to cover both day and night shifts.

Needless to say the plan has been received incredibly badly by Night Tube drivers, who rely on the ‘flexibility and stability’ of the position and, no doubt, by all the other drivers who like their admittedly cushy lot and don’t fancy seeing their evenings disrupted by the occasional night shift.

Needless to say the plan has been received incredibly badly by Night Tube drivers…

According to union boss, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch, ‘RMT is angry and frustrated at the Tube bosses’ refusal to engage in constructive discussions through the offices of ACAS that could resolve this dispute.’

Lynch continued ‘London Underground’s proposals to rip up an agreement that protects 3,000 Tube drivers’ work life balance has caused uproar in the depots amongst drivers.

‘This breach of trust by an out of touch management abolishes the part time jobs of workers – mainly women – who rely on the flexibility and security they offer while they juggle other commitments.

That is an equality issue that the London Mayor should be taking seriously…

‘That is an equality issue that the London Mayor should be taking seriously and raising directly with his London Underground senior management.

‘RMT has made serious proposals and a resolution to the dispute is available through discussion.’

Tube drivers are back from a year when many have been on furlough. The Night Tube, the focus of this strike, hasn’t actually run since 20th March 2020 and isn’t expected to return until 2022.

Most of the nation’s furlough arrangements saw workers receive only upto 80% of salary (with a maximum £2,500), which would’ve left well paid tube drivers out of pocket. However, TfL accepted a £1.6bn loan from the government which allowed drivers’ salaries to be subbed back up to 100%. Nice work if you can get it.

It’s hard to find too much sympathy for tube drivers…

As the husband of a junior doctor (starting salary £23,000), who are expected to work regular night shifts and have borne the brunt of the pandemic, it’s hard to find too much sympathy for tube drivers.

But it’s yet another illustration of TfL’s mismanagement of cash. Tube drivers are poised to bring the capital to a standstill this month over a relatively minor pay dispute, but the  near-bankrupt TfL have been on a spending splurge for the last year, installing unpopular and unused cycle lanes, creating traffic chaos by making bus lanes 24 hours, moving bus stops onto islands and so much more. Given how bad they are at watching the pennies, it seems inevitable that the tube drivers will win this dispute and against such a haphazard employer you can’t help feeling ‘good luck’ to them.

Let’s see if there’s a last minute break-through (there usually is). If not, well we’re all pretty good at WFH now, so it shouldn’t hurt us too badly. The real sufferers will be central London businesses, particularly hospitality, as well as the doctors and nurses who commute on the underground. So yes, things are back to normal…

The strike is scheduled to take place between midday on Tuesday 3rd August and midnight and again between those times on Thursday