Jubilee Line train maintainers at Stratford Market Depot are striking for pay parity with the Northern Line.
Stratford was set up as a brand new depot, not transferred from LU like the Northern Line. Alstom saw this as a licence to write contracts with inferior terms and conditions.
Train maintainers at Stratford have born this grievance for years, until RMT reps decided to do something about it. They recruited 100% of the workforce, telling them they will have to fight to get what they deserve. The ballot result of 100% ‘yes’ on 100% turnout speaks for how well-organised and angry they are.
The ballot result got Alstom negotiating seriously. But their offer was divisive – only about half the train maintainers would receive an increase. The rest would stay on the same money with less responsibility. The money was still not the same as the Northern Line, Alstom using the argument that train maintainers deserve more on the Northern Line for shunting the trains, again dividing workers against each other.
In an example of democracy that we would welcome across RMT on London Transport, the majority of members got a say on the offer at a workplace meeting. They outright rejected it!
So the strike goes ahead on Wednesday 27th January. Then every Sunday for 13 weeks. This is no token action. They are fighting this to win it – another lesson we could do well to learn across the Tube.
Jubilee Line drivers should do all they can to maximise the action. Refuse on safety grounds to drive trains that have not been prepped, like drivers on several lines did with much success when Metronet struck in 2007.