Workers' Liberty

Management's latest 'employee communications' bulletin on pay makes interesting reading. That's "interesting" as in "downright cheeky".

There are some sections that would benefit from translation:

• "Since the start of the Pay Talks we have made clear that we need a multi-year pay deal". Yeah, but Tube workers don't want one: we want to defend and improve our pay and conditions year on year.

• "It has always been our belief that linking [later running on Fridays and Saturdays] with the pay negotiations was the best method of achieving the operating changes given the limited time available." Or, LUL could have put it more plainly, "It has always been our belief that the best way to force you to accept later running with inadequate compensation is to withhold your pay rise."

• "This latest offer ... has now been accepted by BTOG". BTOG?! Wow! They must have at least two members in the grades involved in this pay claim.

• "Many of the terms of the current offer, particularly the 4% year 1 pay award offered by LUL, are only available as the first year of a three year package." And another way of saying that would be: "We'll only give you 4% this year if you agree to accept rubbish for the next two years."

• "We want to settle the deal now and pay the money owed to our staff." Or ... "We're avoiding the issue that we could simply pay up for this year now and keep talking about future years and other issues. Instead, we re-iterate that we'll only give you your pay rise if you agree to the rest of the crap that goes with it."