Running time: 4 mins 18 secs
London Underground workers are having to do a very demanding job since the pandemic with over 2,000 workers LESS than they had before.
This is leading to serious with issues with fatigue, from having to go from very early shifts to very late ones with only a couple of days off to adjust; and to mental health issues with no time to recover from traumatic incidents.
On average, one person a week tries to end their life by jumping in front of a train – imagine how this affects the driver driving the train, and the station staff trying to save the person’s life.
Doing seven day shifts with only two days off quite simply isn’t enough time to process this, and other incidents like serious injuries to passengers, thefts and muggings – and if your mental health isn’t right, your physical health suffers too.
That’s why the RMT are striking for a 4 day, 32 hour week – as well as a pay rise above the current RPI of4.8%. Many workers have to live outside London now as a result of the cost of living crisis, adding a couple of hours jouney onto their shift times and increasing the problems with fatigue and well-being.
Reducing your hours of work has been a core working-class struggle, from the battle for an eight hour day that gave rise to International Workers Day onwards. If the RMT wins this battle, we all have a much better chance of winning a 4 day week too.
