Docklands Light - Light On Staff, Serco Suffers as Staff Set Strike (Coincides With Tube Misery)

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22 January 2014 | Updated 01 January 1970

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (UK) – or RMT for short has announced a series of strikes by Serco employees on the DLR claiming workers are concerned about pay and conditions. This follows a collapse of talks between staff (assisted by the union) and Serco which operates the light railway into the booming docklands area of London – home to the famous Canary Wharf Tower (or 1 Canada Square to those in the know).

29 January – Misery in London

29 January 4 February will see two 48-hour strikes with the second timed to coincide with the first of two 48-hour strikes on the London Underground. (The second is scheduled for 11 & 12 February. The RMT says they are in opposition to plans to close ticket offices with the loss of jobs.)

On the Serco Docklands Light Railway RMT members voted by more than nine to one for both strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over a range of issues. Serco Members have now been instructed not to book any shifts that commence between 04:30 hours on Wednesday 29th January 2014 until 04:29 hours on Friday 31st January 2014 and 12:00 hours on Tuesday 4th February 2014 until 11:59 hours on Thursday 6th February 2014. Additionally all Serco Docklands members are also instructed not to work any rest days or overtime from 04:30 hours on Friday 31st  January 2014 until 04:29 hours on Saturday 1st  February 2014.

According to the RMT, the issues at the heart of the dispute include stalling on talks over a 2014 pay award; heavy handed disciplinary and attendance procedures; the use of agency and contract staff and failures on training, development and grade progression.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “It is solely down to the actions of the Serco DLR management that RMT has had to announce industrial action across Docklands Light Railway to try and force the issues at the heart of this dispute to be both addressed and resolved. “Our members have now shown the level of anger across the railway in an overwhelming mandate for action.”

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 22 January 2014

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