London Tube staff to go on strike

Workers on the Victoria Line of London’s Tube network are scheduled to go on a 24-hour strike on October 5. The strike will begin at 9:30 am.

The strike is planned as a protest against recent increases in workload, after more return journeys were added to the daily roster. Workers on the Victoria Lave have been instructed to schedule five return journeys every weekday.

The number of return weekday journeys had been reduced in 2003, when the tunnels were found to have inadequate air cooling. The drivers have continued to make five return journeys during weekends. According to the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), an agreement to this effect was in place since 2003. However, rail managers have now rescinded this agreement following the opening of the Brixton Depot, saying that the air cooling is now sufficient.

The RMT has labelled this move an underhand attempt to extract more daily work from its members. The union voted unanimously in favour of the strike. In addition to the planned strike, union members have also reportedly refused to perform more than four round trips on the lane, effective September 30.

The RMT has urged the management to re-open negotiations in order to resolve the problem.