RMT hails 'massive' victory for tube workers over pay deal
A RAIL union has hailed a "massive" victory for Tube workers with a pay deal which includes access to a final salary pension scheme.
The agreement for London's Tube maintenance workers was 'ground-breaking'
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the agreement for maintenance workers on London Underground was "groundbreaking" and ends a campaign which included industrial action.
This issue is now resolved and we cannot overstate the massive achievement which has been secured through a long battle involving strike action, campaigning and years of resolve and determination from our Tube Lines' members
Staff on Tube Lines contracts will join the Transport for London pension scheme from January and will have a pay rise in line with inflation every year until 2019, as well as extra money for the launch of the Night Tube, said the RMT.
The union said the deal "turns the tide" on the wave of closures of final-salary pensions schemes across industry.
Staff will also see extra money for the launch of the Night Tube
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "RMT is pleased to be able to report that in the two specific disputes with Tube Lines, the union has been able to secure a good pay deal and, critically, we have finally been able to win equality and justice in pension provision for all Tube Lines' members.
The pay deal for Tube workers has been hailed a victory
"The dispute over pensions goes back years and is a legacy of PPP. This issue is now resolved and we cannot overstate the massive achievement which has been secured through a long battle involving strike action, campaigning and years of resolve and determination from our Tube Lines' members.
The dispute over pensions goes back years, said Mr Cash
"This victory proves once again that the RMT model of militant, industrial trade unionism, backed up by professional negotiations and campaigning, gets results where it matters.
"We could not have secured this stunning breakthrough without the sheer guts and resilience of our members and they are a credit to the entire trade union movement."