London Underground drivers could take strike action on the day of the royal wedding in a row over pay, union officials warned today.
Aslef said it was considering calling its members out on April 29, which would hit Tube services on the day Prince William marries Kate Middleton.
Drivers went on strike on Boxing Day in the dispute over bank holiday pay, which remains deadlocked.
Strike: London Underground drivers could take action on the day of the royal wedding in a row over pay
London Underground took legal action to try to halt the Boxing Day walkout but it failed and the strike went ahead, causing disruption on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Aslef is demanding three days’ pay and a day off in lieu for working bank holidays.
The move comes as it was announced fresh strikes are to be held by London Underground workers in disputes over two drivers.
London Underground managing director Mike Brown said: ‘Tube drivers already have very fair levels of pay and get around seven weeks holiday a year, including allowance for bank holidays.
‘The Aslef leadership is tearing up long-standing agreements that cover pay and annual leave and demanding even more – triple time and another day off.
‘Londoners will simply be stunned at such a claim. The only way to resolve this issue is by getting round the table for constructive talks.
‘I urge the Aslef leadership to end pointless strike threats and work with us to resolve this without any disruption to London.’
Action: London Underground has condemned Friday’s strike and said it would run services despite the plans
Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union on the Bakerloo and Northern lines will walk out for 24 hours from Friday evening.
LU condemned the strike and said it would run Tube services despite the action.
Howard Collins, LU’s chief operating officer, said: ‘It is absolutely outrageous for the RMT to threaten further strike action in support of these drivers, one of whom was dismissed for a serious breach of safety rules, and the other for unacceptable and abusive behaviour towards his colleagues.
‘The union leadership utterly failed in its attempt to gain support for the strike from Northern line staff.
‘Only 19 per cent of those balloted voted for strike action, and on the Bakerloo line only one in three of those balloted voted to strike.
‘For the RMT leadership to try to disrupt Londoners in this way shows a complete disregard for Tube passengers and utter contempt for their own ballot process.
‘If the strike goes ahead, we will once again seek to operate the best service possible.’
Bob Crow, leader of the RMT, claimed the two drivers were being victimised because of their trade union activity.
A strike was held last month over the dispute, while a separate row over Tube job losses remains deadlocked.
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You have to say, great timing, and very nice demonstration of a willing spirit and encouragment for the community on behalf of London Transport. Big, big round of applause. Brilliant, makes us so proud to be represented by them, and not only that, with the Olympics on the way, they might also conisider this as another opportunity to contribute to our great society in the full view of the world. Big round of applause guys. Not property related, but great thinking.
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