Tube workers take a dramatic stand for our rights this week, with several strikes adding to each others' effectiveness:
- On noon on Wednesday, TubeLines workers walk out over pay and conditions and stay out for 72 hours.
- On Thursday morning, they are joined by cleaners, still fighting for a living wage and dignity at work, this time with the T&G/Unite striking for 48 hours alongside RMT.
- On Friday, station staff on East Ham and Charing Cross groups will both strike for 24 hours against unfair sackings.
There is more information about all these disputes elsewhere on this blog - just follow the highlighted links. There are also ongoing campaigns at CBS Outdoor and Rickmansworth group, and the result of Waterloo group's strike ballot over the sacking of Mo Makbhoul is due today (check back later for news!).
We must all rally round these strikes. Support and solidarity from workers in all grades and companies across the job could make the difference between victory and defeat. Go along to picket lines, and remember your right to refuse to work on safety grounds.
With this level of co-ordination and unity, we do not want to see any of the strikes suspended without very good reason - certainly not just 'for talks'. TubeLines workers, for example, have their employer by the short and curlies: if the union suspends action for less than an outright victory, then it would be not just stopping TubeLines workers maximising their chances of winning, but breaking up the united front that we have built so far
Tubeworker has to ask: How much longer will we fight these disputes separately?! Co-ordination is a good start, but an all-grades ballot across London Underground, plus co-ordination with other companies' disputes, would be even better. The union's Regional Council has already decided unanimously on a ballot of all station staff against unfair displacements. Since that issue is now affecting drivers too, we have grounds to involve all grades. If we strike over forced displacements, unfair sackings and the attendance clampdown, then we will unite all Underground workers over real issues affecting our working lives.
Oh, and one more thing to ask - Where are the other unions?!
