Transport services in London have been severely disrupted due to an ongoing strike by engineers who are demanding fairer pay. Around 60 tram, store, and infrastructure engineers have expressed their dissatisfaction over what they perceive as significant pay disparities compared to their counterparts on the London Underground. According to the union Unite, those engineers on the Underground with the same qualifications and responsibilities are earning up to £10,000 more per year.
The disruption caused by this strike has led to inconvenience and frustration among commuters and travelers throughout the city. Unite has placed the blame on Transport for London (TfL), accusing them of engaging in negotiations in bad faith. The union claims that TfL has failed to be transparent about their process for identifying and addressing the pay disparities, breaking their promises in the process.
Initially, strike action was scheduled for March, but it was postponed in order to allow for talks between Unite and TfL. Unfortunately, these negotiations proved unsuccessful. TfL asserts that they have always been open and honest during the process, stating their willingness to collaborate with union colleagues to identify equivalent roles within the London Underground, evaluate overall benefits packages, and take appropriate action. However, the complexity of this undertaking requires additional time.
TfL requested that Unite suspend their strike action during this extended assessment period, but the union declined. Consequently, the strike continues, impacting transport services and signaling the persistent struggle for fair pay within the engineering sector.