Night Tube grade dispute update

ABOLITION OF NIGHT TUBE TRAIN OPERATOR GRADE - LONDON UNDERGROUND (LUL/2/3)

 

I write further to the previous Circular (IR/293/21, 21st July 2021) to advise you that your NEC has decided to suspend the industrial action in this dispute planned to take place from 12:00 on Tuesday 3rd August 2021 and our Train Operator members are instructed to work normally on the following days:

•          12:00 hours on Tuesday 3rd August 2021 to 11.59 hours on Wednesday 4th August 2021

•          12:00 hours on Thursday 5th August 2021 to 11.59 hours on Friday 6th August 2021

The union's decision to suspend these dates of the strike action was made possible by progress that had been made between your negotiating team and the company during talks held at ACAS.

 

Crucially, London Underground have confirmed that the arrangement that had been made with ASLEF to abolish the Night Tube Train Operator's Grade will not be implemented while your union is in talks with the company. Our lead officer has reported that your negotiating team yesterday updated your level 1 representatives on the progress that was made, and it was overwhelmingly agreed that this week's strike action should be suspended to allow for constructive talks to continue.

 

During the ACAS talks your union's position that there should be no job cuts, Night Tube duties should be only offered on a voluntary basis, and that the overall work-life balance of members should not be negatively affected was reiterated.

 

Your National Executive Committee has considered the matter and noted the report from the lead officer. Considerable and commendable progress has been made in this dispute - for months the company had refused to engage in meaningful discussions and were going to proceed with ripping up our earlier agreement - this has now been halted to allow alternative possibilities to be explored.

 

Your NEC has congratulated your negotiating team for using the mandate for strike action provided by the strong resolve and commitment of members demonstrated in the ballot result to make progress towards a resolution to the dispute. While we remain ready to negotiate and seek an agreement if possible, we are not willing to allow LUL to impose unacceptable conditions on our members.

 

Your union will continue to campaign against any compulsory incorporation of Night Tube Duties into the TO21 roster and to oppose any proposal that does anything less than safeguard the number of Train Operator jobs on London Underground. Should the talks which your union is currently engaged in fail to secure an acceptable way forward with LUL then we will not hesitate to carry out the strike action planned for later in the month in defence of members' terms and conditions.

 

I will of course keep you updated with all further developments in this matter.