Following the ballot for strike action over the abolition of the Night Tube drivers grade, RMT have now named two 48 hour strikes (3 - 5 and 24 - 26 August). 87% of drivers voting backed strike action and as RMT heads into talks with ACAS with days already declared, drivers should start building for these strikes now.
An emergency meeting of the RMT train grades committee met on 12 July with unanimous support for naming dates and strong support for two 48 hour strikes with midday starts. The timing of the strikes aims to cause the maximum disruption for the company and force them to abandon their plans which threaten work life balance and future jobs.
Tubeworker knows that this is likely the first in many fights the company are about to launch as they pass on the cuts they will try to make to appease the government's funding package. Now is the time to build support for these strikes among all workers across the combine and prepare to ballot on the coming attacks.
With dates now public, a focus must be on getting a good turnout on the pickets from all lines, including those who do not currently operate night tube services. Aslef members should refuse to cross these picket lines, despite Aslef themselves backing these changes, without consulting their membership, there is growing unease over their stance.
