RMT press release, issued today

SOME 70 RMT station staff at a dozen stations at the north end of London Underground’s Metropolitan line are to strike for 24 hours from 05:30 tomorrow (Thursday) morning against the forced transfer of staff.

Members returned a 13-to-one majority for action after senior LUL management breached its own procedures to tell staff on permanent postings that they would have to move jobs – over-ruling a potential solution negotiated locally.

Station staff at all stations from North Harrow to Amersham, Chesham and Watford will not book on for shifts that commence between 05:30 tomorrow, Thursday August 7, and 05:29 the following day.

“The five people involved were all on permanent postings and some have even moved house to be closer to their work,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“LUL management has now ridden roughshod over its own procedures and told them that they will have to move, even though local reps had hammered out a potential solution which would have seen everyone’s wishes catered for.

“This isn’t about inconvenience, it’s about management throwing its weight around when they know there is an acceptable solution to the problem.

“Our members have shown that they are not prepared to tolerate this treatment of their colleagues and we hope that LUL will now sit down and work out the sensible solution that could have prevented this strike,” Bob Crow said.