Unions won’t risk royal day strike action January 11, 2011 TRADE UNIONS have downplayed the threat of potential strike action on the day of the royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton. Threats to ruin celebrations on 29 April incensed the city, after fears unions could bring London to a grinding halt, as millions the world over turn their focus on the capital for [...]
Coalition’s VAT hike slammed by all sides January 3, 2011 CHANCELLOR George Osborne was caught in the political crossfire as the UK braced itself for today’s rise in VAT to 20 per cent. The tax hike will cost families £400 a year and risk up to 250,000 jobs, Labour leader Ed Miliband claimed while on the by-election campaign trail in Oldham yesterday. Osborne accused the [...]
TRAIN STRIKE LOOMS IN SOUTH-EAST December 7, 2010 A RAIL strike on trains run by Go-Ahead Group’s Southeastern franchise is looming after leaders of the Rail, Maritime & Transport union announced plans to ballot members over alleged proposals to axe jobs and reduce the role of rail team leaders at Charing Cross and Victoria stations. RMT boss Bob Crow said Southeastern was about to [...]
Tube strike begins… again November 28, 2010 A fourth “pointless” underground strike began last night, leaving millions struggling to get to work this morning. The strike, which began at 7pm yesterday, will continue until 7pm tonight, with many services not fully resuming until tomorrow morning. London Underground (LU) officials had hoped to strike an eleventh hour deal with its workers but talks [...]
Tube strike to disrupt Monday’s travel November 26, 2010 A 24-hour strike on London’s underground rail network will go ahead on Monday after talks over planned job cuts broke down, heralding the fourth walk-out since September. The strike, by members of the RMT and TSSA unions, will begin on Sunday evening, and is likely to cause further travel disruption for thousands of commuters already [...]
Tube boss vows to fight unions in a bid to modernise the network November 17, 2010 TUBE boss Mike Brown vowed not to back down in his long-running dispute with unions over his plans to cut 800 ticket office jobs. “I want staff to be more flexible, I make no apology for that,” said the London Underground managing director. “We will not run a service that is stuck in the 1960s. [...]
The Tube boss who is battling to rebuild the world’s oldest network November 17, 2010 It has been a tough few months for the new managing director of London Underground. Mike Brown, a company veteran who returned in March, faces his fourth strike over the axing of ticket office jobs in a matter of weeks. Tube unions RMT and the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association say getting rid of 800 ticket [...]
Tube union in talks to halt strikes November 4, 2010 The RMT union met with London Underground bosses yesterday to try and head off another city-wide strike over staffing levels in ticket offices. Transport for London (TfL) said the talks were constructive, while a spokesperson for mediation body ACAS said the two sides had arranged to meet again next week as part of ongoing negotiations. [...]
Tube strikes caused major delays but failed to paralyse London yesterday November 3, 2010 A THIRD wave of tube strikes failed to paralyse the capital yesterday as London Underground maintained around 40 per cent of trains despite the walkout. Speculation that another strike will take place over Christmas and New Year eased after the Transport Salaried Staffs Association said they will not recommend the action to its members. Some [...]
TfL brings in extra services November 2, 2010 LONDONERS trying to beat today’s underground strike will be able to make use of over 100 extra buses, 10,000 more places on riverboat services and a Tube service operating at 40 per cent capacity, Transport for London (TfL) has said. The strike is due to end at 9pm today after a 24-hour walk-out. However, TfL [...]