by an RMT tube worker London Underground (LUL) management are preparing to smash effective trade unionism on the Tube, removing workers' right to strike, paving the way for privatisation. Meanwhile, underground workers and booking office staff are preparing for action.
Major restructuring of the industry is being mented on a planned basis in order to force the rail workers' union, the RMT, to defend its weakest members first. They hope to kill not just two, but three, birds with one stone: to impose a no-strike agreement, to rid themselves of a score of militants, and to prepare for privatisation.
This grim reality is being dressed up in a package of cuts in staffing, service and safety which would result in the loss of at least 2,000 jobs, the tearing up of numerous agreements and the destruction of collective bargaining.
Split workforce
However, train drivers are not being attacked in theshort term, in an attempt to split the workforce. The leadership of the train drivers ASLEF, is doing everything to assist the management - in a vain attempt to safeguard their right to organise drivers This is consistent with for strike action. Workers who take strike action will be asked to sign a statement on their return to work. This will require workers to work in accordance with current duty rosters and not to take action against their contract.
The management correctly guess that whatever the union instruction, half of the membership will sign under duress. This is not because they don't want to fight or are anti-union. The nature of the industry, with hundreds of booking-on points, gives a built-in advantage to the management.
Suspended
After a second strike, a further 25% would sign and the rest of the workers would be suspended without pay or dismissed. At this point the 'refuseniks' could apply for their jobs back. The manage ment assume that the activists will not apply - and would reject any that did.
Immediate all-out action would solve many tactical problems. Given that one-day strikes were successful in 1989, the RMT executive have decided to commence the action in this way, despite arguments to the contrary.
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