Tube drivers plan strike action in March

Story by Joe Acklam

London Underground train drivers are to go on strike in March after a near unanimous vote from members of the ASLEF Union. 

There will be 24 hours of strike action on Wednesday 15th March on the London Underground as 99% members of the ASLEF union, on a turnout of 77%, voted in favour of a strike. 

This vote comes after the management's decision to not accept their proposals to change working conditions and pensions. 

Train drivers as well as other ASLEF members, including Test Train and Engineering train drivers and those in management grade, as they also voted in favour of industrial action by a similar margin. 

Finn Brennan, ASLEF's full-time organiser on the Underground, said: "The size of these "Yes" votes, and the large turnouts, show that our members are not prepared to put up any longer with the threats to their working conditions and pensions. 

"We understand that TfL faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government's failure to properly fund London's public transport system. 

"Cuts to safety training have already been forced through and management is open that they plan to remove all current working agreements under the guise of "modernisation" and "flexibility" and to replace the agreed attendance and discipline policies. Proposals to slash pension benefits are due to be announced in the next week. 

"We are always prepared to discuss and negotiate on changes, but our members want an unequivocal commitment from TfL that management will not continue to force through detrimental changes without agreement. 

"Unless they are prepared to work with us, and accept that changes have to come by agreement, and bring real benefits to staff, rather than just cuts and cost savings, this will be only the first day of action in a protracted dispute."