Saturday - December 24, 2005

More Union Madness

This time it’s in Britain. Again, it is transit workers. What’s up with these people? They pick the busiest time of the year to throw a monkey wrench into the whole holiday season? And for what? The buttheads want a 35-hour work week! The tube workers in London are planning to walk off the job on New Years Eve, which will probably increase the number of drunk drivers on the streets. How freaking stupid can a union get ...

Drunk-driver Fear Over Tube strike
LONDON (BBC)

Drunk-driving could increase if a Tube strike goes ahead on New Year’s Eve, the chairman of London Assembly’s transport committee has warned. Roger Evans also called for a no-strike agreement to keep London Underground (LU) running. Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members voted five to one for strike in a dispute over staffing levels.

The 24-hour walkout by 4,000 staff is set to start at noon. Last minute talks on Friday between RMT officials and Tube chiefs failed to reach a deal through the conciliation service Acas. LU station staff have also voted for another 24-hour walkout starting on 8 January.

But speaking to the BBC, Nigel Holness, LU service director, said there are plans for further talks on Thursday - two days ahead of the proposed industrial action. Speaking to Radio Four’s Today programme, Mr Evans said the strike posed a real danger to Londoners.

“There may be an increase in the amount of drinking and driving,” he said. “There will certainly be an increase in the number of illegal minicabs which are a problem we have in London. It just seems irresponsible for the union to call a strike for New Year’s Eve.”

London mayor Ken Livingstone condemned the RMT for “trying to ruin New Year’s Eve for thousands of Londoners” after the peace talks broke down. The RMT fears LU plans, which include closing ticket offices, could lead to job losses and compromise safety. Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff but RMT’s General Secretary Bob Crow said LU was using the deal to “displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff”.

The deal was something the RMT had campaigned for. LU said there were no plans to cut any jobs on the Tube. Transport for London had already announced the continuous running of the Tube with it being free from 2345 GMT on New Year’s Eve until 0430 GMT on New Year’s Day.

Posted by The Skipper     on 12/24/2005 at 07:07 AM   
Filed Under: • Unions-Labor •  
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