RMT Tube drivers are set to walk out this week in two strikes over a proposed new-four day week.
However, The Standard can reveal that there is also a power battle between the union and London Underground which is partly driving the industrial action.
A series of talks have took place between the two sides on Monday, but failed to resolve the dispute.
In a memo to RMT members, the union’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey laid out details of the stand-off.
He also “instructed” drivers not to book on any shifts on the planned strike days of Tuesday June 2 and Thursday June 4.
In the memo, Mr Dempsey explained that the union has been seeking reassurances for drivers who do not want to opt for the four-day week but that TfL had “failed to adequately address the points raised by RMT”.
The union is arguing that the new working conditions deal is a “fake” four-day week and that it is really five days of work compressed into four.
Mr Dempsey stressed that RMT negotiators were open to more talks to resolve the industrial row “on the basis that no driver would lose their rostered position or depot” if they rejected the four-day week.
He then gave an insight into how the RMT is seeking to gain power from the Aslef train drivers’ union, which has accepted and hailed the four-day week proposals, for future key negotiations.
Crucially, the RMT does not want the talks to be done through the Trains Functional Council, a main joint negotiating and consultation forum, as it believes its current distribution of seats is disproportionate and unbalanced against the RMT.
In his memo, Mr Dempsey emphasised: “RMT insisted that talks should proceed at an appropriate level and not at Trains Functional Council (TFC) where the process is one of discussing implementation in a forum where RMT, representing the majority position of all drivers, is outnumbered by 15 to 3 by management and the other union.
“We asked LUL (London Underground) to immediately make a proposal to Company Council to increase the number of RMT local reps to give parity of local reps between the two unions.
“LUL failed to respond positively to any of these points.”
London Underground’s stance on the four-day week and negotiating forum has infuriated local RMT representatives involved in the talks.
“The company continues to insist that clarification on what constitutes a voluntary approach must continue at functional level,” Mr Dempsey continued.
“None of the assurances sought in this respect, have been given.
“Management continues to stand by their position that no improvements in the terms of the compressed working arrangements can be made.”
London Underground put forward the idea of an “oversight group” to plan discussions at the Trains Functional Council but insisted that “all substantive discussion” on the four-day week would continue through this body.
The stance angered RMT officials.
“With management's position remaining unchanged, your Regional Organiser reported that those attending a meeting of local reps...expressed fury at this and stated that we have no alternative but to continue with the planned strike action next week,” the memo, published on Friday, added.
Mr Dempsey stressed that the union’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, had endorsed this position.
