FOLLOWING a 100% strike vote, RMT members working on the Serco Barclays so-called ‘Boris bikes’ London cycle scheme began a 48-hour strike on Sunday evening over a range of grievances.
All RMT members working for the Serco Barclays Cycle scheme were instructed not to book on for any shifts commencing between 21.00 hours on Sunday and 20.59 hours tonight.
Members also remain instructed not to work any overtime until further notice as part of on-going action short of a strike.
The grievances at the heart of the dispute are:
• The imposition of a 2% pay increase for 2013
• The imposition of shift change patterns
• The continuous bullying and harassment of members
• The company’s refusal to reach a formal agreement on travelling time or on travel allowances.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: ‘By voting 100% for strike action RMT members sent out the clearest message to Serco Barclays, the scheme operators, that they are serious about this fight for justice on pay and working conditions on the London cycle scheme.
‘However, despite talks with the company we have not been able to make significant progress and so we now have no option but to proceed with strike action starting on Sunday evening.
‘This is one of Mayor Boris Johnson’s personal flagship projects and it is about time he intervened to ensure the staff get a fair deal.
‘There has been a whole barrage of press reports recently that the Serco “Boris Bikes” are facing severe docking and capacity problems, and yet the staff running the London cycle hire scheme are subjected to a bullying management who are imposing outrageous changes to conditions of service while denying our members a fair pay increase in recognition of the growing workload.
‘RMT will not stand aside and watch this group of key transport staff get kicked from pillar to post.
‘The London Cycle Hire Scheme is much more than a vanity project and a publicity stunt for the London Mayor, it is now a valuable part of our transport system and the staff should be treated as such.
‘The scheme has attracted global publicity but now risks collapsing into chaos through a massive under-investment in staff, bikes and docking stations.
‘RMT members have been forced to strike to secure improvements to pay and conditions and to send out the message that they will not be left to take the rap from a bullying management that refuses to take responsibility for its actions.’
Transport for London said the dispute was an issue for Serco.
