ASLEF members on London Underground have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over the company’s decision to try to force through, without negotiation, new rosters which would mean Tube drivers will have to work an unlimited number of weekend and night shifts for no extra pay.
Asked whether they were prepared to take part in a strike, 97.6% (1,771 members) voted yes, while just 2.4% (44 members) voted no. Members also voted strongly in favour of taking part in industrial action short of a strike, with 98.7% (1,786) voting in favour compared with 1.3% (24) voting against. The turnout in the ballot was 81.3% - with around 80% of all LU drivers being members of ASLEF.
The union says that the ballot was triggered when LU management ended direct talks with the unions and started the process to impose new rosters. LU staff have been told that unless they agree to the rosters then no pay offer will be made this year.
As a result of the vote for action, the ASLEF executive committee has announced a 24-hour strike from 2130 on July 8, which will have the effect of shutting the entire tube network down.
The RMT's John Leech said Tube drivers were right to ask for more money on top of their £49,700 salary in return for working night shifts.
- For more on this story, read RAIL 778, published on July 8.
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