Transport unions will not hold 2012 Games to ransom, say Olympic bosses

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Olympic bosses have rejected claims that London Underground (LU) drivers may hold the Games to ransom in their bid for an increased bonus, after their trade union rejected a pay offer of £500.

Transport for London commissioner Peter Hendy said the latest knock-back by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which represents thousands of tube staff, was a tactical ploy and that a deal would be struck in time to ensure smooth operations of Olympic Games transport.

He said he had set aside money in the component of Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) reimbursement for additional Games costs to pay an Olympic bonus to tube staff but would not reveal the amount.

The ODA money comes from the Government's taxpayer-funded £9.3 billion contribution to the Olympic Games costs.

"There is plenty of time to get a deal," said Hendy. "No we aren't being held to ransom, this is just negotiating, they just make a lot of noise about it."

London organising committee (Locog) chairman Sebastian Coe said he was confident the rail unions would support the Games and "be reasonable".

"The trade unions have contributed a massive amount to the Games already, this is a national effort and I have no feeling at all that the trade unions will want to see anything but a successful Olympic Games," Coe said.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said he believed the thousands of tube staff were committed to the showing off their work and would be very proud of their Games' contribution.

The RMT said the offer by TfL was not sufficient to recompense staff for the increase in passengers and extended shifts during the Games period.

Last Friday the owners of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) sealed a deal for its staff for an £1,100 Olympic bonus, following on from a £600 bonus for London Overground staff.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "RMT is rejecting this latest Olympics and Paralympics pay offer from LU and we will be meeting with the company again to press our case for a flat-rate, across-the-board payment which recognises the contribution of all staff throughout the high-pressure extended Olympics and Paralympics period and which is free from a whole barrage of strings and caveats.

"Other employers, notably London Overground, Network Rail and most recently DLR, have come up with serious offers and agreements and we expect London Underground to do the same.

London Underground director George McInulty said: "We have put forward our proposals about how our staff could be fairly rewarded based, as usual, on feedback from our customers and on the flexibility that staff show in working different shift patterns. Discussions continue on the issue."

The ongoing tube staff negotiations overshadowed a campaign launch by the Government and transport agencies intended to inform the public about how to plan for transport issues during the Olympics.

A hot pink series of directional signs, coupled with an advertising campaign featuring cartoon athletes using public transport – even though the athletes will be travelling throughout the Games on the controversial Olympic Route Network – was unveiled.

A website – http://www.getaheadofthegames.com – will pinpoint travel congestion and pinch points.

The Government says it has spent £6.5bn on improving transport links, specifically designed to enhance Olympic transportation.


Source
By Jacquelin Magnay, Olympics Editor
www.telegraph.co.uk