Strike date for Tube employees announced

Date: 20/11/2009

London Underground bosses are urging union RMT to end the threats of strike action as the transport union announces December 21 as a potential strike date.

A dispute over pay is at the centre of the strike action, as RMT announced four trade groups would head to the polls.

Executives at London Underground urged the RMT to recommend the “above inflation” pay offer presented to the union, instead of “unnecessary strike action”.

London Underground managing director Richard Parry said: “RMT's leadership are making these threats when discussions are planned, making a nonsense of their claim to be interested in talks.”

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said London Underground and TfL bosses try to “shackle” the union in the courts.

“In these four separate ballots on four localised trade disputes RMT is showing again that this trade union will not be found wanting when it comes to fighting for fairness and justice in the workplace,” said Mr Crow.

RMT’s Underground employees will vote on the strike vote before December 21, and talks between the union and Underground are scheduled to resume next week.