Financial News
- 18 December 2012, 13:11
London Tube Drivers To Strike On Boxing Day
London Underground drivers are to go on strike on Boxing Day in a row over Bank Holiday pay.
Members of Aslef will are to hold three 24-hour walk-outs - on December 26, and again on January 18 and 25.
It is feared the move - which Aslef members backed by a 9-1 margin - will spark travel chaos in the capital
An Aslef spokesman said: "The ballot result shows the strength of feeling that remains on this issue.
"The union is committed to finding a solution which offers voluntary working and compensates those who do attend."
It will be the third successive Boxing Day walkout by Tube drivers in a dispute over Bank Holiday pay which dates back to an agreement in 1992.
The stoppage will disrupt Tube services on a busy day in the capital, causing big problems for shoppers, sports fans and visitors.
Talks have been held at the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked.
Howard Collins, London Underground's chief operating officer, said before the strike dates were announced: "We have been in discussions with the Aslef leadership to find a way to end this dispute and we made what we believed was a very fair offer.
"Unfortunately, this was not accepted and the offer has now been withdrawn so that further options to resolve the issue can be explored with the union at Acas.
"Further industrial action will not achieve anything and I would urge Aslef leadership to work with us to resolve this dispute."
what do you think?
romsey1891
why don't both sides honour the 1992 agreement? which side is not abiding by it?
t.bulgin
How nice of them, just when a lot of innocent folk will be looking to join their loved ones. Peace and goodwill to all men, except commuters.
bjnk
Maybe like many others who are forced to work certain bank holidays, would also like the day off with their families, show some peace and goodwill, is christmas time not a time for families being together. Why should they miss family time mainly to line the pockets of big business, who's owners and directors will no doubt be with theirs.
Colin Tiso
maybe its about time we the communters went on strike dont use the tube then all those drivers can go around driving empty trains and as to working on boxing day well so do others have to work but you dont see or hear of doctors . nurses . policemen . firemen or of the many others who have to work bank holidays who dont get paid extra goinh on strike . tube drivers get well paid . jave a large range of perks and benifits and still want more . if they dont want to work on bank holidays then find a different job . i expect their positions could be easily filled by anyone of our millions of unemployed
Brian Quinn
3:59pm on 17/12/2012
You can always rely on the Unions to mess with people's lives. It's time they were all done away with.
blue side
7:53pm on 17/12/2012
Brian another of the certainties in life