Posted 18th December 2012 | 7 Comments

Boxing Day Underground strike to go ahead

TALKS aimed to resolving a dispute over Boxing Day pay for London Underground drivers have broken down, and the network is now set to be disrupted by industrial action on 26 December. Further walkouts have been called for 18 and 25 January.

The failure to reach agreement has been condemned by London Underground, but the drivers' union Aslef said there was 'strength of feeling' on the issue.

London Underground said: "Despite the efforts of LU to resolve the dispute, the Aslef leadership have demanded an additional £250 for their drivers to work on Boxing Day, on top of their salaries that already include working on Boxing Day. In return they only offered to return to talks in January.

"Today LU sought to resolve the dispute by offering a trial period of voluntary overtime and rest day working that could have allowed a payment to be made to those train operators that worked Boxing Day. All suggestions were rejected by the Aslef leadership."

Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan responded: "We are seeking quite reasonable assurances: that working on this day will be voluntary and that those who do attend will be adequately compensated. It is beyond belief that management cannot make an offer that achieves these points."

The strike is only one of several which seem likely to disrupt holiday travel. ScotRail RMT members are staging a two-day walkout just before Christmas in a dispute about the sacking of a ticket examiner, while CrossCountry onboard staff are also staging a 24-hour strike on Friday after the RMT claimed that there had been a 'complete breakdown of industrial relations' at the company.

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Adam, London

    I think this is utterly ludicrous. I just don't understand how they can get away with this time and time again.

    I have applied for many jobs in the past where I have been told in the interview that working on one of either Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, is compulsory and that this must be agreed to when signing the employment contract. I am sure that something similar must be in place with LU.

    If you don't show up for work on one of those days when requested, then you're sacked.

  • John, Falmouth

    I am fed up with this last minute blackmail - seems to happen every year. If you work on the railway, you know that it is not a 9 to 5 job. I hope that the management/ Boris stand up to them.

  • James Pritchard, Southampton

    Mick Whelan claims that his request for working on Boxing Day to be voluntary and adequately paid is "quite reasonable." As far as I know, there has been a Boxing Day tube service for some years, and I would say that if you applied for a job as a tube driver then it would be "quite reasonable" to expect to be asked to work on Boxing Day, in the same way that it is quite reasonable to expect those who work for the emergency services, for example, to sometimes work on Boxing Day (or even Christmas Day...).

    If Mr. Whelan doesn't want to work on Boxing Day, the reasonable thing for him to do - and to advise his members to do - is to apply for a job elsewhere with different hours.

  • Philip Russell, Carlisle

    So what has become of Boris's very public pledges during his recent election campaign to curb the unions power by introducing driverless tube trains.

  • Tony Pearce, Reading UK

    I don't think the Rail Industry has a very good 'Public' image with non-railway staff. Having worked for a major International Firm, I can assure you our image was constantly monitored (eg in all newspapers local and national) because it led to more business and job security. One day, the Government is going to say 'Enough' and refuse to subsidise the Industry as it does at the minute to £5 billion a year. Maybe the Government just doesn't have the guts to impose Driverless trains and more automation, but its technically feasible.

  • Phil, Croydon

    Here we go again.

    Another Boxing day holiday strike even though they are already contracted to work.

    Come on Boris. Time to take on these dinosaurs from Aslef and the RMT.

    The 'softly softly' approach ws good to ensure cooperation for the Olympics, but London has had enough of them keep on holding us to ransom.

  • James Palma, London

    Oh dear, the Underground on strike yet again. As an employee of London Underground I always await the next strike ballott with bated breathe, knowing the outcome before it is even announced. I have to say this one seems long overdue based on the past record.

    Why do members of staff accept these constant strikes by colleagues, especailly when many do not want to go on strike? I have passed many picket lines in my time, where I have disagreed with the unions stance and advise more colleagues to do so. We all have an opinion but we must NOT force that opinion on others. Especially if it is one of greed!

    If you think you are underpaid or you do not like your job, get a different one and let someone else get your old job!! I am sure they will appreciate it more.