Boris Bike workers prepare for 48-hour strike over pay dispute
WORKERS at the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme will go on strike for two days next week, transport union RMT confirmed yesterday.
Around 63 workers will join the action, which begins at 9pm on Sunday, lasting 48 hours.
The RMT is citing the imposition of a pay rise limited to two per cent, shift pattern changes and “the continuous bullying and harassment of members” as grievances behind the dispute. This follows the union’s recent vow to “devastate transport services across the capital” in the face of government cuts.
Following the announcement, Andrew Hill of Serco – the company that employs the Barclays Cycle Hire workers – said the firm was “very disappointed that the RMT has decided to take unnecessary industrial action”. He added that an agreement not to strike had been reached with Community, the other union to which Cycle Hire workers belong.
Bob Crow, RMT’s general secretary demanded that both Boris Johnson and Serco meet with the RMT.
The strike adds to the recent bad news for the loss-making scheme, which saw usage fall by 20 per cent in the aftermath of price rises in January.