Woolwich: Travel Misery As Strike Dates On The DLR Confirmed By RMT

DLR Staff will walk out for 48 hours from 3 November

From Tuesday morning next week, two DLR Stations in Woolwich are expected to be closed as workers walk out from their duty posts following 'breakdown' in talks with RMT - their Umbrella trade Union.

Though classified as part of the London Underground, the DLR has been a redeemer each time LU workers have been on strike. The pendulum is set to swing next tuesday for two days if the walk-out threat goes ahead.

A statement from KEOLIS AMEY DOCKLANDS which manages the DLR said a 48-hour strike will take place next week on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), as the union fights a series of issues affecting staff.

Staff will walk out from 4am 3 November until the same time on 5 November. So from "03:59 hours on Tuesday 3rd November 2015 until 03:58 hours on Thursday 5th November 2015," the statement said.

The union says it is tackling a number of issues including a "creeping culture of bullying and intimidation of staff being allowed to develop" and breaches of agreements, procedures and the recognition framework.

According to RMT general secretary Mick Cash: “Our members on DLR are furious at the way that Keolis/Amey are trying to bulldoze through some of the worst working practices and conditions that we associate with the operations of the most cheapskate and anti-union companies in the transport sector and that anger is reflected in the ballot results.

"We will not sit back and allow this aggressive and bullying culture to develop on this key part of London’s transport network.

“The company should not have underestimated the anger of the workforce and KAD’s abject failure to address these issues which left us with no option but to ballot for action and that ballot registered a massive 92% in favour.

“Despite strenuous efforts by RMT negotiators in talks since the ballot was confirmed the company have dug their heels in and have failed to make progress in a number of key areas at the heart of the dispute. As a result RMT has no option but to confirm 48 hours of strike action for next week. The union remains available for further talks.”

A statement posted on the website of the RMT said "An avoidance of disputes meeting took place with the Company on Friday 23rd October and afterwards your Executive Committee member and Lead Officer attended a DLR Branch meeting with members to explain the issues at the heart of the dispute and that regrettably, negotiations with the Company had broken down. Although it is the case that as always we remain available for talks with the Company to resolve this dispute, we now have no alternative but to act on the huge strike action mandate."

He said: "I urge you all to support this action and demand that the Company takes action to resolve the issues at the heart of this dispute. The Company has sent you a copy of a letter to RMT dated 22nd October but as you will see KAD has refused to provide the assurance that those off sick following an incident (accident, assault, one-under etc) at work will not face punitive sanctions and has refused to stop training managers to cover the CRT Grade even though no health & safety consultation has taken place on this issue."

He urged them to stand firm together and support the action, telling them "Support Your Union."