Tube workers branded selfish after voting to strike on Queen's Jubilee bank holiday

Tube workers branded selfish after voting to strike on Queen's Jubilee bank holiday
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Samantha Haynes

By Samantha Haynes


Published: 18/05/2022

- 18:52

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:23

Downing Street has condemned the RMT and said they don't want to see any disruption when people are trying to come together to honour this Jubilee year

Downing Street has spoken out against London Underground workers who will strike on one of the Jubilee bank holidays in a row over bullying.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union at Euston and Green Park will walk out on June 3 unless their complaints about bullying are addressed.


MPs have criticised the "hard left wing leaders of the RMT" for the planned "cynical and selfish stunt" and for being "out of touch" with the British public.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I don’t think we want to see any disruption to London’s transport system at such a moment when people are trying to come together to honour this Jubilee year.”

London Underground workers will strike
London Underground workers will strike
Joe Sene

Sir Robert Neill, Tory MP for Bromley and Chislehurst told the MailOnline: "The idea of trying to disrupt a holiday and day of national celebration, shows not only how little respect the hard left wing leaders of the RMT have for Her Majesty's lifetime of service, but also how completely out of touch they are with ordinary hard working members of the public, who want to will see this for the cynical and selfish stunt that it is."

A spokesman for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he hoped the issues could be resolved before the Jubilee weekend.

He said: “We never want to see industrial action that’s going to disrupt the public, particularly on an occasion like the Platinum Jubilee weekend where obviously we want the focus to be on celebrating the great service of Her Majesty to this country.”

Signage at Green Park underground station ahead of a strike
Signage at Green Park underground station ahead of a strike
Jonathan Brady

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Staff at Euston and Green Park have suffered years of sustained bullying and intimidation by a manager who has created a toxic working environment.

“The union has tried in vain to reason with management, but they now will not let local representatives be part of a review into dismissals at the stations, instigated by the manager in question.

“Our strike on June 3 will cause significant disruption to people wishing to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee.

“However, if Tube bosses do the right thing, and deal appropriately with the manager in question, we can find a just resolution to this dispute.”

A Transport for London spokesperson said: “We hold our people to high standards and ensure everyone is treated fairly.

“We’re aware of this dispute and are carrying out an urgent review in a bid to resolve it.

“We have had a number of meetings with the RMT and are urging them not to take strike action and to continue working with us to find a resolution.”

TfL said later it expected to keep Green Park and Euston stations open during the strike.

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