Unite takes strike action over London Underground’s failure to protect pensions and jobs

Hundreds of Unite members employed by London Underground will take 24 hour strikes on Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 July in a dispute over jobs and pensions.

ASLEF are due to take action on the same days and the RMT will take a series of rolling strikes between Sunday 23 July and Friday 28 July.

Unite will not accept attacks on the pension scheme especially when the scheme is financially viable and in credit. The union is calling for guarantees that there will be no increases in employee contributions to the pension scheme, no decrease in employer contributions, and no reduction in pension fund benefits.

The union is also calling for a guarantee of no job losses in London Underground following Government funding cuts.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite members on the London Underground will not accept attacks on their pensions and jobs.

“The workers are rightly demanding copper bottomed guarantees from TfL. Without these solid guarantees strike action will continue and the workers have Unite’s complete support.”

Unite represents around 450 members on the London Underground including workers in engineering, maintenance and management.

Unite regional officer, Simon McCartney said: “TfL are blindly following the government’s cuts agenda. The pension scheme is financially viable and in credit, so Unite will not accept any attacks on our members’ deferred pay.

“It’s time for TfL to realise that we’re not backing down. The pension fund must remain unchanged and attacks on jobs must stop.”