RMT members employed by Serco, the company which manages the ‘Boris Bike’ scheme for Transport for London, have voted to strike in a row over pay and conditions.
Grievances include a pay cap of 2% pay increase for 2013, changes to shift patterns and claims of “continuous bullying and harassment of members”.
A ballot of members for both strike action and action short of a strike was announced last month. On Wednesday the union announced members had “voted 100% for strike action”.
General Secretary Bob Crow said: “By voting 100% for strike action RMT members are sending 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 and we now expect the company to wake up and start meaningful talks.”
“Despite warnings that the so-called “Boris Bikes” are facing severe docking and capacity problems, the staff running the London cycle hire scheme are facing a bullying management who are imposing outrageous changes to conditions of service while denying our members a fair pay increase for a massively increasing workload.”
Mr Crow added: “This 100% vote for strike action cannot be ignored and RMT’s executive will consider the next steps in this campaign for workplace justice.”
Responding tthe RMT’s statement, Andrew Hill, Contract Director at Serco for Barclays Cycle Hire said, “Together with our recognised trade union Community, we have reached an agreement on the issues the RMT have raised through a comprehensive and fair consultation with staff.
“We are therefore very disappointed that the RMT has decided to take unnecessary industrial action over pay and working conditions by stopping staff working overtime. We will make every effort to minimise possible disruption in service to the thousands of Londoners who rely on the scheme to get around the City every day.”
