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Night tube talks resume as strike looms Night tube talks resume as strike looms
(35 minutes later)
Talks aimed at averting a strike by thousands of London Underground workers have resumed, with time running out to reach a deal.Talks aimed at averting a strike by thousands of London Underground workers have resumed, with time running out to reach a deal.
Almost 20,000 workers are due to strike for 24 hours from Wednesday evening – budget day – in a dispute over new all-night tube services.Almost 20,000 workers are due to strike for 24 hours from Wednesday evening – budget day – in a dispute over new all-night tube services.
In a separate development, talks aimed at averting a 48-hour strike by workers on First Great Western trains have broken down. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are now set to walk out from 6.30pm on Wednesday.In a separate development, talks aimed at averting a 48-hour strike by workers on First Great Western trains have broken down. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union are now set to walk out from 6.30pm on Wednesday.
The action, over jobs and maintenance of new Hitachi trains, will affect services between London and Wales and the West Country. Cricket fans going to Cardiff for the first Test of the Ashes series will be among those affected.The action, over jobs and maintenance of new Hitachi trains, will affect services between London and Wales and the West Country. Cricket fans going to Cardiff for the first Test of the Ashes series will be among those affected.
Talks over the tube dispute were held at the conciliation service Acas last week without any sign of progress, and both sides met again on Monday.Talks over the tube dispute were held at the conciliation service Acas last week without any sign of progress, and both sides met again on Monday.
The RMT, Aslef, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite are unhappy over the pay being offered for the new service, due to start at weekends from mid-September, as well as rosters.The RMT, Aslef, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite are unhappy over the pay being offered for the new service, due to start at weekends from mid-September, as well as rosters.
A strike by all four unions would cripple tube services, hitting the millions who use the underground every day, as well as tennis fans going to Wimbledon.A strike by all four unions would cripple tube services, hitting the millions who use the underground every day, as well as tennis fans going to Wimbledon.
Transport for London said: “If this goes ahead, there will be no tube service from late afternoon on Wednesday 8 July and no tube service at all on Thursday 9 July. All other public transport services and roads would, of course, be much busier than usual. We will be issuing detailed travel advice to customers as soon as we can.”Transport for London said: “If this goes ahead, there will be no tube service from late afternoon on Wednesday 8 July and no tube service at all on Thursday 9 July. All other public transport services and roads would, of course, be much busier than usual. We will be issuing detailed travel advice to customers as soon as we can.”
The RMT accused First Great Western of “playing for time” in the talks and of “going through the motions” rather than addressing the issues.The RMT accused First Great Western of “playing for time” in the talks and of “going through the motions” rather than addressing the issues.
The RMT said it was campaigning to avoid job losses, keep a safety-competent guard on every train, maintain buffet car facilities and ensure that the maintenance of new rolling stock remains in-house.The RMT said it was campaigning to avoid job losses, keep a safety-competent guard on every train, maintain buffet car facilities and ensure that the maintenance of new rolling stock remains in-house.
The union’s general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “RMT has made every effort to secure a series of very basic assurances from FGW over jobs, services and safety as a result of the introduction of the new Hitachi fleet and they have shown no intention of addressing those issues in the talks today.The union’s general secretary, Mick Cash, said: “RMT has made every effort to secure a series of very basic assurances from FGW over jobs, services and safety as a result of the introduction of the new Hitachi fleet and they have shown no intention of addressing those issues in the talks today.
“RMT is angry and disappointed that the company have ignored the massive vote for action by their staff and have instead opted to plough ahead with a series of actions that will decimate jobs, services and safety. As a result of FGW collapsing the talks in this cavalier fashion, the action goes ahead as planned.”“RMT is angry and disappointed that the company have ignored the massive vote for action by their staff and have instead opted to plough ahead with a series of actions that will decimate jobs, services and safety. As a result of FGW collapsing the talks in this cavalier fashion, the action goes ahead as planned.”
He added: “It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking but FGW have ignored us and are crashing on with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.He added: “It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking but FGW have ignored us and are crashing on with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.
“RMT will be out at stations this week with a public campaign to expose this shabby and profiteering treatment of both passengers and staff alike by a company that already has one of the worst reputations in the industry for milking the rotten rail privatisation racket for every penny they can.”“RMT will be out at stations this week with a public campaign to expose this shabby and profiteering treatment of both passengers and staff alike by a company that already has one of the worst reputations in the industry for milking the rotten rail privatisation racket for every penny they can.”
An FGW spokesman said: “All we want is to make sure our services give the best possible deal for our passengers. These brand new trains have been designed to deliver more seats, and faster, more frequent journeys for passengers – but we can’t deliver those if they are operated in the same way as the 40-year-old trains that run today. A FGW spokesman said: “All we want is to make sure our services give the best possible deal for our passengers. These brand new trains have been designed to deliver more seats, and faster, more frequent journeys for passengers – but we can’t deliver those if they are operated in the same way as the 40-year-old trains that run today.
“We have already made assurances about job security and commitments to increase the number of staff on board super express trains. Today we have made a number of additional commitments that we believe meet the concerns of the RMT, while still allowing us to deliver the improvements our customers want to see.“We have already made assurances about job security and commitments to increase the number of staff on board super express trains. Today we have made a number of additional commitments that we believe meet the concerns of the RMT, while still allowing us to deliver the improvements our customers want to see.
“While it is disappointing that the RMT were not able to take this proposal away today, we believe a negotiated solution to these proposals is possible, and are keen to continue discussions as soon as possible.”“While it is disappointing that the RMT were not able to take this proposal away today, we believe a negotiated solution to these proposals is possible, and are keen to continue discussions as soon as possible.”