The proposed strikes would cause travel chaos for commuters (Picture: PA)
The main Tube drivers’ union is preparing to hold a series of ‘hard-hitting strikes’ that would shut down the Underground.
Aslef will this week give notice to Transport for London that it plans to ballot its 2,000 members over feared changes to pensions and working conditions.
The result is due on February 15 – meaning the first walkouts could start in early March, according to the Evening Standard.
Everyone from railway workers and civil servants to nurses have taken part in strikes over the last few months, often because of pay and declining working conditions.
Aslef’s strike threat marks a dramatic escalation in the row over pensions and TfL’s bid to make efficiency savings by changing working practices and not replacing departing staff.
The RMT last year held six one-day strikes, most recently on November 10, over the same issue.
It comes after a number of train strikes by the RMT ground train stations to a halt over Christmas and the New Year.
The Prime Minister was today locked in talks with Union bosses to try and put an end to strike action.
Rishi Suank said he was ‘happy to talk about pay’ with unions, and did not deny suggestions the Government was considering a one-off payment to help NHS staff.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay was meeting health unions on Monday, including the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which put the chance of strikes being called off at less than 50%.
Tube workers last went on strike in November last year (Picture: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock)
It could lead to some packed buses in the capital (Picture: Getty)
Buses are set to be extra busy if the strikes go ahead (Picture: George Cracknell Wright/LNP)
MORE : Who’s on strike this week? Latest updates for January 9 – 15
Teaching unions were holding talks with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan ahead of announcements this week over whether their members will go on strike.
Rail minister Huw Merriman called in train workers after sustained action crippled services, with only one in five trains running between Tuesday and Saturday.
TfL also confirmed the central section of the Elizabeth line – between Paddington and Abbey Wood – would close on Thursday due to a strike over pay by dozens of line managers in the TSSA union..
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This is the first strike by staff working on the Elizabeth line since it opened last May.
Finn Brennan, Aslef district organiser for London, told the Standard: ‘‘Our dispute is over management’s failure to give us the assurances we have asked for that any changes to terms and conditions and pension arrangements for our members will only be made by agreement.
‘We have repeatedly said that we are prepared to negotiate on changes and work with the company to find ways to cut costs, but we cannot accept cuts to pensions or increases to workloads being forced through without agreement.
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‘TfL and the Government are due to announce the details of their pension proposal by the end of this month. Our members have been very clear that they will not stand passively by while the income they expect in retirement is drastically slashed.
‘Using the buzz words of ‘flexibility’ and ‘modernisation’, [London Underground] want to make huge cuts to staff numbers and increase the workload of those remaining at the same time as removing the agreed procedures on discipline and attendance management.
‘Unless management accept that change needs to come by agreement and bring benefits to staff, not just cost savings, then we will see hard hitting and protracted strikes this spring that will bring the tube to a standstill.’
No new strikes have been announced by either union in their bid to secure pay rises without a threat to working conditions.
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Thousands of commuters could be left frustrated if staff take part in the proposed strike action.
