…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
The Elizabeth line, which has become the best-used railway in the UK, is facing another strike that could result in the closure of part of the line, one year after it first opened to passengers.
The TSSA union announced on Tuesday that its members plan to strike on 24 May, demanding pay parity with other workers on the £20bn line.
It is the second such strike this year, after a January walkout by the TSSA and Prospect unions caused the central section of the line to close.
The TSSA strike will affect dozens of operational staff who control the signalling and safety systems of the line.
The strike follows several months of discussions with line managers who work for Rail for London Infrastructure (RfLI), a Transport for London subsidiary, which oversees the Elizabeth line.
The TSSA claims RfLI managers receive “tens of thousands of pounds less” than colleagues on other TfL services, including the Tube and DLR.
Following the strike, an “action short of a strike” will take place from 27 May to 4 June, with managers refusing to work rest days or cover for absent colleagues.
The Elizabeth line currently serves more than three million journeys per week, and is used by one in six UK rail passengers.
Staff demand pay parity with colleagues on other TfL services
The Elizabeth line, also known as Crossrail, has been beset by delays, running billions over budget and facing accusations of mismanagement.
However, despite this, it has quickly become one of the most heavily used railways in the UK, accounting for one in six rail passengers.
Its ability to provide an alternative to the Tube has seen it come to the rescue of Londoners during Tube strikes.
The strike by TSSA is separate to that being taken by the RMT on pensions and working practices, but will be followed by “action short of a strike”.
It is hoped that a resolution can be reached before the strike takes place, and Transport for London (TfL) has been approached for comment.
The dispute between the TSSA and RfLI highlights the ongoing battle to achieve pay parity between different TfL services.
The TSSA is demanding that operational staff on the Elizabeth line be paid the same as those in similar roles on other TfL services, given that they work weekends, nights, and holidays to operate the world’s only fully digital railway.
The strike will have an impact on the signalling and safety systems of the line, and the “action short of a strike” will result in the refusal by managers to work rest days or cover for absent colleagues.