Shift testers are to strike for two lots of 36 hours against EDF Powerlink's refusal to give them pay parity with day workers. The strikes will be from 19:59 this Sunday, November 16, and from 19:59 on Sunday December 7.
They are also taking 'action short of strikes', refusing to stay on at the end of their shifts unless it is a life-threatening emergency - something which the job usually relies on.
RMT members on EDF Powerlink voted 21-2 for strikes and 22-1 for action short. They may be a small workforce but they are potentionally very powerful, as their job involves identifying and repairing faults at London Underground's sub-stations - and there are more than 250 of them!
The strike deserves all our support - which it why it is a bit worrying that it has had little profile around the rest of the job. The union needs to publicise it more to its members in other grades. And RMT safety reps should be advising members of the potential safety implications of the strikes and the circumstances under which we might refuse to work on safety grounds.
