Up to 300,000 Docklands Light Railway passengers today faced the threat of major disruption after unions ordered a strike ballot among nearly 700 staff.
RMT union leaders accused Keolis Amey, which operates the service on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), of trying to “bulldoze” through changes to working practices and conditions.
The result will be declared on Thursday 22 October – just two days after the union announces the result of a strike ballot on the Piccadilly Line in a separate dispute.
The union expects overwhelming endorsement of the strike call in both ballots – by law the union must give seven days’ notice of any industrial action.
Walkouts on both the Piccadilly Line and DLR are expected to be combined to cause maximum disruption.
Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said: “Our members on DLR are furious at the way Keolis Amey are trying to bulldoze-in some of the worst working practices and conditions that we associate with the operations of the most cheapskate and anti-union companies in the transport sector.
“We will not sit back and allow this culture to develop on this key part of London’s transport network.”
Rory O’Neill, TfL director of the DLR said: “This is a matter between the RMT union and the DLR operator, KeolisAmey Docklands Ltd.
"Threatening strike action is unnecessary, and I would urge both parties to get round the table to discuss and resolve this dispute."
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