London Underground Night Tube drivers announce April strike dates in dispute over jobs
Unions say drivers on the weekend service are being blocked from applying for full-time jobs
LONDON Underground Night Tube drivers are to strike on April 8 and 29 in a dispute over jobs, union announces.
The Aslef union said its members backed industrial action by 100per cent in a turnout of 75per cent, adding that there was “ample opportunity” for talks to avert the walkouts.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has already revealed that its members voted by more than 9-1 to strike.
The unions say drivers on the weekend service, which started last August, are being blocked from applying for full-time jobs on the Tube and do not qualify for overtime pay.
Aslef official Finn Brennan said: “Under the previous mayor, London Underground pushed through the recruitment of part-time staff to operate Night Tube because they weren’t prepared to find a fair way to roster the work with full-time staff.”
The executive committee said it decided to give London Underground longer than the normal seven days’ notice of industrial action, so that there is opportunity to reach agreement.
London Underground operations director Peter McNaught said: “Night Tube services have been running since August last year in line with agreements reached with the unions. We’ve met with the unions to discuss and resolve the new issues that they have.
“We have invited the unions to more talks this week and I encourage them to continue discussions with us rather than threaten industrial action.”
London Underground police community workers are also to vote on strikes over their 1am finishing time, it was announced this week.
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