The RMT has said it plans to ballot for industrial action in a row over staff leave with Transport for London.
The union also declared a ‘formal dispute’ with London Underground over a ‘failure to reach an agreement on Olympics recognition and reward payments’.
The RMT says it is ‘appalled’ over TfL’s plans to ‘severely restrict’ annual leave over the Olympics.
The union said is has ‘no option but to organise a ballot for industrial action of all members in departments of TfL for strike action and for action short of strike’.
‘Lack of progress’ in reaching an ‘acceptable’ agreement has been blamed for the formal dispute with London Underground.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“RMT reiterates our stance that all grades of transport employees are entitled to a decent financial reward for their efforts transporting huge numbers of passengers during the Olympics and are entitled to take leave during the summer.
“Working conditions and important agreements should not and need not be attacked in order to facilitate Olympic running.”
Most of the public have little time for the RMT and their out-of-date views. It is immoral to hold the passengers and country to ranson.
Many employers have a rule such as no more than 10% of workforce to take leave at one time unless approved by management. The authority to take leave will always be dependant upon the workload present at the time – and rightly so. The TFL staff are being paid to do a job, and their salary comes from doing that work, therefore doing the work should be a priority.