RMT press release, issued today

RMT SHIFT WORKERS responsible for fault-finding and maintaining the electrical supply to London's Tube will start the first of two 36-hour strikes on Sunday evening (November 16) after employer EDF Energy Powerlink failed to deliver pay parity with day workers.

After voting by 21 to two for strike action, 25 RMT 'shift testers' will not book on for turns that commence between 19:59 this Sunday, November 16, and 07:59 on Tuesday, November18, and between 19:59 on Sunday December 7 and 07:59 on Tuesday December 9.

From a minute after midnight this Sunday, November 16, and until further notice they will also not make themselves available for work after the end of any turns of duty unless there is a direct and imminent danger to human life.

"Shift testers at EDF Energy Powerlink are seeking nothing more than parity with their day-work colleagues, who some time ago received a £3,000 rise in exchange for flexibility in signing on and off," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"Shift testers have also displayed flexibility and have seen their work-life balance turned upside down by the change from 10-hour days and 14-hour nights to a 12-hour shift system.

"We have tried hard to reach agreement in talks at ACAS, and our shift members are happy to give the same flexibility in booking on and off and it is time for the company to acknowledge that the case for parity can no longer be ignored.

"The overwhelming vote for action should tell the company that our members are determined to win parity - and EDF can hardly plead poverty.

"I hope EDF Energy Powerlink is prepared to avoid a strike with the potential to shut down large sections of the Tube network, but it needs to signal that it is prepared to treat its workforce equally and fairly," Bob Crow said.

ends

Note to editors: Shift testers are responsible for the highly skilled work of finding and fixing faults at London Underground's more than 250 power sub-stations and maintaining the power supply.

In ballots that closed on October 28, RMT members voted by 21 to two for strike action and by 22 to one for action short of strikes.