RMT re-balloting Tube staff over strike action

The RMT's Mick Lynch said members "remain as determined as ever to get a just settlement"

More than 10,000 Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members across London Underground will be re-balloted for strike action.

The union has been in a dispute with Transport for London (TfL) and the mayor of London over jobs and pensions for nearly a year.

It follows TfL plans to cut 600 jobs, and changes which could mean workers lose 30% of their pensions.

The RMT's current mandate for industrial action runs out in June and, by law, the union would then have to achieve a new mandate from members in order to continue industrial action.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said members "remain as determined as ever to get a just settlement on jobs, pensions and their working conditions".

He added: "The mayor is under pressure from central government, but he must join us in resisting them and refuse to allow ideologically motivated financial constraints to be used as an excuse to attack Tube workers."

A spokesperson for the mayor of London said: “As a result of the pandemic, TfL required emergency government funding, which came with onerous conditions."

They said Sadiq Khan would "not support any unfair changes to pensions that attack the terms and conditions of transport workers", adding: "At this stage, no decisions have been made and any reform would be subject to extensive consultation.”

The RMT ballot will run from 25 April until 23 May.

The government has been contacted for a response.

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