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Workers employed by the London Overground company will be participating in a strike during the months of February and March. This decision comes after members of the RMT union voted against a proposed pay increase.
Over 300 individuals will go on strike for a period of 48 hours, starting from 12:01am on Monday, February 19th, 2024, until 11:59pm on Tuesday, February 20th, 2024. They will then resume the strike from 12:01am on Monday, March 4th, 2024 until 11:59pm on Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.
Some of the individuals involved in taking action include security personnel, station employees, revenue workers, and control staff.
The announcement was made on the initial day of a distinct succession of ongoing strikes coordinated by the Aslef train drivers’ union. These strikes have caused the closure of several of the most heavily used railway lines in the nation.
The RMT reported that Arriva Rail London, responsible for operating the London Overground for Transport for London (TfL), proposed a pay increase below the rate of inflation. As a result, their members voted in favor of a strike by a large margin.
Mick Lynch, the RMT’s general secretary, stated: “The workers of London Overground play a crucial role in providing services for Transport for London and assisting passengers on their travels within London.”
“Our members are angry about the pay offer being below inflation and are seeking a better offer that reflects the worth they contribute to the company.”
If this disagreement cannot be settled, RMT is fully prepared to engage in ongoing industrial action in order to secure a fair salary increase for London Overground employees.
The Independent spoke with Steve Best, the boss of Arriva Rail London, who stated that the RMT has not yet informed the company of any dates for potential industrial action.
“We are very disappointed to learn that the RMT union has chosen to engage in strikes on the London Overground during February and March. We are confident that our pay offer is fair and competitive, not just within our industry but also compared to other industries and businesses in the UK. We will continue to communicate with the RMT in hopes of finding a resolution to this disagreement,” stated the spokesperson.
In a situation where costs are tightly regulated, it is crucial for us to provide our coworkers with a reasonable and enduring salary increase. Our goal is to provide fair compensation for our staff and safeguard their job stability in the long term. In preparation for any potential strikes, we have established strong backup plans to guarantee the well-being and protection of our employees and clients.
A representative for TfL stated: “We urge the RMT to keep working with Arriva Rail London in order to reach a solution and prevent our customers from being affected by strike action.”
Earlier this month, RMT members who work on the London Underground were scheduled to go on strike. However, the planned strikes were called off at the last minute due to progress made in talks with Transport for London.
Starting on 30 January, members of Aslef, the union for train drivers, will go on strike in different regions for one week, until 5 February. This will result in the cancellation of thousands of trains each day.
The impact is worsened by a suspension of overtime for nine days, starting from January 29th until February 6th.
Source: independent.co.uk
