Tube Lines response to RMT announcement

Commenting on the RMT’s announcement today that its members have voted against Tube Lines’ offer of a 4.95% pay rise and in favour of striking, a spokesperson for Tube Lines said:

“We believe that a pay offer of 4.95% is very competitive, especially when compared with theUKaverage rise of 3.7%. We are disappointed the RMT is taking this stance and passengers have every right to feel angry over the proposed action.

"The RMT’s vote against the offer and the length of their proposed action defy reason and perhaps suggests there is an ulterior motive behind the rejection.  They have made no secret of their desire for Tube maintenance to return to public ownership."

Only one in four of those eligible voted in favour of industrial action.

Despite RMT claims that the deal is not equal to that set at Metronet, Tube Lines believes its pay and conditions are very competitive and amongst the best in the rail industry. For example, employees get 29 days of annual leave as well as eight bank holidays and employees in operational grades receive an 80% subsidy on travel.  The offer also compares favourably with other pay deals agreed elsewhere this year, such as 4.6% for London Underground, 2.5% for nurses and 1.9% for police. 

 

 

ENDS

For further information, please contact the Tube Lines press office on 020 7088 4848

Notes to Editors

1.      Tube Lines has offered unions a one year deal at 4.85% or a two year deal at 4.95% in year one backdated to 1 April 2008, and the retail price index (RPI) plus 0.75% in year two. Employees covered by this deal are all those whose pay and conditions are determined by collective bargaining procedures. This includes front line operational staff such as track operatives, signalling staff, train maintenance staff, engineering train operators, lift and escalator fitters and administrative and technical staff who are not on performance-related pay.

2.      361 people voted in the ballot.

3.      Tube Lines is responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the infrastructure on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines.  London Underground is responsible for operating the Underground, for employing drivers and station staff, for ticketing and fares, and for the Tube’s safety regime.

4.      The Tube Lines consortium consists of two shareholders – Amey and Bechtel. They bring together some of the most experienced providers of business services with specialist skills in the rail industry, including track and signal renewals, plus project and operational management.  They are providing some of the best project and operational managers from around the world to work on the modernisation of the Tube system. Amey owns two-thirds of Tube Lines’ business and Bechtel one third.

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