Tube Lines workers' strike action has won some significant gains - and workers will now vote on the company's new offer.
The pay deal is still for three years, but while we might have preferred a one-year deal, it is easy to see why in the current climate, a guaranteed above-inflation rise for the next three years is attractive. On top of that, Tube Lines has agreed that there will be separate negotiations about the Olympics, so we may still be able to extract more from them.
Management have conceded that they can not impose new rosters. And that the 'no compulsory redundancies' pledge applies to operational managers not just blue-collar workers. (Under the 2001 dispute settlement, it should apply to everyone, but management have been denying that for a long time.)
This is a welcome boost for Tube Lines workers, but also for workers in other London Transport companies too. It will put all our employers on the back foot, and we can all feel more confident that if we fight, we can win. It certainly shows that reps were right to reject the previous offer and press ahead with the strike!
There will be further battles for Tube Lines workers to fight. There is still a 'two-tier' workforce, and more recently-recruited staff want to see the union fight for equal travel facilities and pensions. This win is a great platform from which to pursue that fight.