12.02.16
London Underground maintenance worker strike cancelled
Strike action planned for today by London Underground maintenance workers over safety issues has been called off, but future strikes may still go ahead.
The RMT announced it had suspended the instruction for 1,500 maintenance worker members not to book on for shifts for 24 hours from 06.30am today.
Workers were due to go on strike in protest to a new London Underground rule, section 15 possession protection, which removes the requirement to book out with the track access controller and allows the service controller to implement protection.
London Underground has also agreed to suspend all section 15 possessions for two weeks from today.
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, paid tribute to “the hard work of RMT’s negotiating team” and the “determined and rock-solid workforce.”
He said: “The dispute remains live, further strike action remains in place from early March and the action short of a strike also remains in force. We remain determined to secure a long-term agreement that protects the safety culture across London Underground.”
Six 12 and 24-hour strikes are still scheduled to take place between March 6 and 12 June.
Steve Griffiths, London Underground chief operating officer, said: "I welcome the RMT's decision to suspend this action to allow for further talks to take place. Safety is always our top priority and we have robust and comprehensive procedures in place to ensure that any staff working on the track are kept safe."
A planned 24-hour strike today by nearly 500 track patrol staff over plans to outsource some track patrolling to Cleshar Contract Services is still set to go ahead, but London Underground said it did not anticipate this would affect services.