London Overground commuters should brace themselves for potential disruptions as more than 300 staff members are set to take strike action in response to a below-inflation pay offer.
The industrial action, which will include strikes and action short of strikes, is scheduled to occur on two separate occasions in February and March.
The first round of strikes is scheduled to begin at 00:01 on Monday, February 19, 2024, and will continue until 23:59 on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The second phase of action will commence at 00:01 on Monday, March 4, 2024, and conclude at 23:59 on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
The affected staff members participating in the strike include security personnel, station operators, revenue collectors, and control staff.
These workers, who play crucial roles in the smooth operation of London Overground services, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the pay offer presented by Arriva Rail London (ARL), the company holding the contract for London Overground.
The pay offer from ARL is reported to be below the rate of inflation, which has sparked outrage among the members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union. In a recent vote, RMT members overwhelmingly supported the decision to take industrial action as a response to the unsatisfactory offer.
This forthcoming strike action raises concerns about potential disruptions to London Overground services and highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding fair compensation for essential rail staff. Commuters and authorities will be closely monitoring the situation in the lead-up to the strike dates in February and March, with hopes for a resolution to the pay dispute to minimize inconveniences for passengers.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “London Overground workers do an important job delivering services for TfL and supporting passengers on journeys throughout London.
“Our members are furious that they have been given a below inflation pay offer and want to see an improvement that represents the value they bring to the company.
“If this dispute cannot be resolved then RMT is more than prepared for a sustained period of industrial action to get London Overground workers the pay rise they deserve.”
Well let’s disrupt this rail service forr the public, we’ve not had a go at this one as yet! One of the aspects of rail unions (or any union) is that the paid union officials have to produce ” batting averages”, ie. convince their subscription paying members that they are worth it.The problem for the taxpayers and rail travellers is it is they who suffer .It is particularly noticeable that most of the strikes we have recently are public sector ones, where the members can “afford” to strike.People who work in the private sector cannot afford to strike.Why do not “environmentalists” criticise the rail unions because of all the people they have forced to use their cars? Please do not fall into the trap that the strikes are in the interests of the public, as the rail unions often, perversely claim.