The
RMT
union


is
holding
another
strike
ballot
from
today
among
more
than
10,000
of
its
members
on
London
Underground,
as
the
deadlock
over
jobs
and
pensions
continues.

The
Mayor
is
under
pressure
from
the
government
to
improve
Transport
for
London’s
financial
position
by
£1
billion,
and
he
has
already
launched
a
consultation
over
the
possible
abolition
of
Day
Travelcards,
to
improve
revenue.

The
RMT
is
opposing
plans
to
cut
jobs,
with
600
station
staff
said
to
be
among
those
affected,
while
the
union
says
Underground
staff
could
lose
more
than
30
per
cent
of
their
pensions.
The
RMT
also
pointed
out
that
TfL
has
forecast
a
£75
million
surplus
this
year,
while
passenger
numbers
are
recovering
from
their
Covid-related
slump
faster
than
expected.

The
new
ballot
will
run
until
23
May,
while
the
current
mandate,
required
by
law,
runs
out
in
June.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘Our
members
have
taken
several
days
of
strike
action
over
this
last
year
and
remain
as
determined
as
ever
to
get
a
just
settlement
on
jobs,
pensions
and
their
working
conditions.

‘The
Mayor
is
under
pressure
from
central
government,
but
he
must
join
us
in
resisting
them
and
refuse
to
allow
ideologically
motivated
financial
constraints
to
be
used
as
an
excuse
to
attack
tube
workers.

‘TfL
has
healthy
revenue
streams
and
our
members
are
among
the
thousands
of
tube
staff
that
make
it
a
successful
transport
provider.

‘This
re-ballot
is
vital
to
maintain
the
pressure
on
TfL
and
I
urge
all
our
members
to
vote
yes
in
the
postal
ballot.’

TfL
has
yet
to
comment.