London Underground: Planned Strike Action on 1st and 3rd March - Advice for TSSA members

You will be aware of planned strike action across the tube network on Tuesday 1^st March (between 00:01 and 23:59) and Thursday 3rd March (between 00:01 and 23:59).

The strike action is intended by another railway union following a legal ballot of their members – it only applies to members belonging to that trade union. The plans for strike action does not involve TSSA members.

TSSA has, so far, not registered a formal dispute with LU. We have not balloted our union members whilst modernisation talks continue across functional councils – Stations & Revenue, MATS and Managers. Your TSSA functional council reps are directly involved in ongoing talks for consultation and negotiation. In line with our bargaining machinery, the internal process has not been exhausted by your union.

TSSA advice to members who are not themselves involved in strike action

TSSA members are advised to make every endeavour to report for duty as normal in accordance with their contractual requirements.

Where transport difficulties prevent members from getting to work, they should report it to their employer with the minimum of delay. Where necessary, members should use whatever means of public transport are available.

TSSA members are strongly advised to carry out their normal duties and they should not volunteer to work extended hours arising directly out of or in consequence of the dispute. Members are advised not to agree to undertake any duties that cannot be regarded as part of their job description and/or have not in the past been undertaken by them in their current post.

Members should not, at any time during the dispute, act in breach of their contracts of employment and should carry out their normal duties in line with what is stated above.

The above paragraph does not apply to regular rostered overtime and applies only to additional duties occasioned by the dispute.

Safety

Members should not agree to undertake any additional duties where there is any doubt as to their individual competence in respect of safety matters. Members will appreciate the danger of liability in the event of an accident or other breach of safety.

It is very strongly stressed that in the event Management seek the agreement of, or instruct, staff with the appropriate background, to undertake duties normally performed by members of other unions, this should be immediately reported to TSSA. This advice applies to circumstances whether, or not, the individual’s own judgement is that they are competent to undertake the duties in question.

We would reiterate that our members should only work their usual roster, including any regular rostered overtime, and should NOT volunteer to work any additional hours arising out of the dispute.

TSSA may not lawfully encourage members to take part in secondary industrial action. Members may, however, choose as a matter of individual conscience, not to cross another union’s picket line.  Members who so choose should be aware that such action is likely to put them in breach of contract and may result in their employer taking disciplinary action against them (including dismissal).

TSSA will provide advice, support and representation to any member facing disciplinary action in such circumstances. 

Who to contact for Information or advice?

TSSA Functional Council reps - contact details can be found here:

TSSA Helpdesk – freephone 0800 328 2673

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