RMT says that if crunch talks at Director level on weekend tube strike fail today dispute will be escalated immediately to ACAS.

TUBE UNION RMT said today that if crunch talks at Director level over this weekend’s 48 hour station staffing strike fail this morning then the matter will be referred immediately to ACAS as the clock ticks down towards Saturdays action.

RMT will be in talks through the Company Council framework this morning over the action that affects the jobs and futures of five thousand staff caught in the middle of the ticket office and job cuts programme.

The union has made it clear that any attempt to divert or long-grass the issues in dispute must lead to an immediate escalation to ACAS.

RMT Station Grades have been instructed NOT TO BOOK ON FOR SHIFTS between the following times:-

• 21:00 hours on Saturday 6th February 2016 and 20:59 hours on Monday 8th February 2016.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:

“The union demands to LUL on its Fit for the Future Stations programme are simple – no imposed rosters, no short notice duty changes and no imposition of new framework agreements.

“RMT will be attending the talks tomorrow but with the clock ticking we are making if crystal clear that if there’s any dragging of heels we will be calling for an immediate escalation to ACAS.

“With surging tube demand, against a background of chronic overcrowding, the union cannot and will not sit back while safety-critical jobs, that are the eye and ears of the service, are ripped away from our stations.”