Tube union plots to RUIN Friday and Saturday nights out in London: Staff vow to strike from 8.30pm to 4.29am on Victoria and Central Lines – as hospitality chiefs say it’s ‘the last thing city needs after two devastating years’

• Drivers walking out until June ‘is the last thing the capital needs’, the experts said
• They also say it will be more risky for women and vulnerable people going home
• Members of the RMT union on Central and Victoria lines are holding the strikes

Night Tube strikes are going to batter businesses, jobs and people’s safety, hospitality bosses have warned.

London Underground drivers walking out on weekends until June ‘is the last thing the capital needs’ as it recovers from the pandemic, the experts said.

They pointed out it will also be more dangerous for women and vulnerable people looking for a safe route home in the evening.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on the Central and Victoria lines are striking for eight hours on Friday and Saturday evenings.

It has taken place every weekend since January 7 and staff are pledging to continue doing so for another four months.

The union accused London Underground bosses of a ‘deafening silence’ over the row but Transport for London said it was open to talks.

London Underground drivers walking out on weekends until June ‘is the last thing the capital needs’ as it recovers from the pandemic, the experts said (file photo)

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls (pictured) said: ‘A strike would jeopardise hospitality businesses, jobs, livelihoods and peoples’ safety’

Pub and club bosses warned the drivers of the threat to other industries the strikes were causing.

UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said: ‘A strike would jeopardise hospitality businesses, jobs, livelihoods and peoples’ safety.

‘The tube is crucial for safely transporting staff and customers – often women and vulnerable people late at night – to and from venues.

‘Hospitality has suffered two disastrous years of closure and devastatingly low levels of trade, but will now be key to London’s recovery.’

She added: ‘The last thing the capital needs is new setbacks like this.’

Michael Kill, CEO of Night Time Industries Association, said: ‘We have fought extremely hard to re-establish the night tube service last year, but now further disruption through long term strike action is likely to have a devastating impact on the night time economy which is a fundamental part of the Capitals infrastructure.

‘This action will further limit the services on the night tube, against the backdrop of night time economy businesses facing an extremely challenging start to 2022, presenting considerable concerns over the safety of customers and staff traveling home at night.’

Chief Executive of London Chamber of Commerce Richard Burge branded the RMT ‘obstructive and selfish’.

He called on the union to ‘put their shoulder to the wheel and show solidarity with businesses and Londoners’.

Managing Director for Strategy and Policy at London First Muniya Barua added: ‘Londoners depend on a regular underground service and for many the Night Tube is a lifeline, not just a Tube line.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the Central and Victoria lines are walking out for eight hours on Friday and Saturday evenings

‘This action will have major consequences for the economic recovery at the very point that commuters will be returning to their offices.’

Drivers have been walking out in their latest strike since January 7 amid arguments over rosters for the Night Tube.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘We are calling on Tube bosses to end their deafening silence and take up the opportunity of resuming negotiations with the aim of resolving the Night Tube dispute.

‘The action continues tonight despite the fact that we believe there are simple and cost-free options that would enable us to consider suspending the action. We cannot make any progress if LU continue to give us the cold shoulder.

‘With London heading back towards some normality at last, the settlement of this dispute should be a priority for the mayor and his officials and that means showing a willingness to recommence the talks process.

‘The issue at the heart of the dispute, protecting the work/life balance of drivers, cannot be swept under the carpet and needs to be addressed rather than dismissed.

‘RMT stands ready to get talks back on. ‘

A TfL spokesman said: ‘We remain open to talks with the RMT, in the hope this long-running strike action can be called off.

‘During the six months of regular (conciliation service) Acas talks on this matter, it’s become clear that there are no new or workable proposals. However we remain in touch with both the RMT and Acas in the hope that a resolution can be found.

‘Our position remains that since changes to our rosters, which have been agreed with our other union, were implemented, they’ve been a positive change for the organisation and our staff, helping us to keep London moving, become a fairer place to work and bringing back Night Tube.

‘Despite the strike action, we’re running a good Night Tube service on the Victoria Line and a regular service on the Central Line, with at least two trains per hour through central London.

‘We’ve made changes to driver rosters to preserve a near-normal Tube service while also giving drivers the opportunity for full-time work, new flexible part-time work and long-term job certainty.

‘There are no job losses, and those few who want to remain on the previous rosters have been able to do so as a result of the changes made, and we have assured Tube drivers that night shifts usually can be swapped with colleagues for duties at other times of day.’

Source: Read Full Article