Cash incentive as Tube strikes loom

Previous stoppages have created commuter chaos

Striking Tube drivers and those refusing to cross picket lines during the election week stoppages will forfeit a cash bonus, London Underground has disclosed.

The RMT, which represents one-third of drivers, has called one-day stoppages on 3/4 and 5/6 June, action described as "totally unjustifiable" by Tony Blair.

Earlier Tube stoppages this year have caused commuter chaos in central London and cost businesses millions in estimated lost revenue.

London Underground has now introduced a £250 incentive scheme, ostensibly to reduce absenteeism among its 3,000 drivers, which will be forfeited by strikers and those refusing to cross picket lines.

Key negotiations

Aslef, which represents the majority of drivers, is not striking but members have refused to cross RMT picket lines during previous disputes, causing the Underground to grind to a halt.

Union chiefs have attacked London Underground's move and warned about the potential damage to negotiations with management at the conciliation service Acas, due to start at 1400BST.

London Underground says the payment is an incentive scheme to tackle absenteeism by rewarding perfect attendance from drivers over three months starting on Friday.

It is time to stop shadow boxing and get down to serious discussion

Bob Crow
RMT spokesman

But RMT assistant general secretary Bob Crow told the Evening Standard newspaper: "This is a divisive move which will also undermine safety.

"It is only being paid to drivers, not other grades such as signal workers and engineers. It will seek to persuade people to come in to work and drive trains when they are ill and should be at home.

"It is time to stop shadow boxing and get down to serious discussion."

London Underground's management hope to avert the stoppages, called because of safety fears over the government's part-privatisation plan, which are due to start at 1730BST on Sunday and 2000BST on Wednesday.

There are also demands over working conditions, pay and assurances on compulsory redundancies.

It is an attendance bonus which is being offered if people don't take any time of

London Underground
spokeswoman

A spokeswoman for London Underground told BBC News Online that the "attendance bonus" for drivers was a recent incentive and adamantly denied that it constituted a strike-breaking payment.

But she confirmed that those drivers striking or refusing to cross picket lines would not be able to receive the bonus.

She said: "It is an attendance bonus which is being offered if people don't take any time off.

"We are having a bit of a problem with people on sick leave and it is intended as an extra incentive for people."

Legal challenge postponed

Separately, London Mayor Ken Livingstone has delayed his legal challenge to the Government's plans to part-privatise the Underground network.

The legal challenge has been postponed from 12 June to 23 July.

Mr Livingstone said: "The case has been adjourned to allow Bob Kiley's negotiations with the bidders to continue.

"If those negotiations do not succeed in modifying the PPP to accommodate the requirements which Mr Kiley has advised are essential for safety and efficiency, then we remain committed to challenging the PPP in court."