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Talks aimed at averting a crippling tube strike have "completely broken down" according to unions. Are things stand a 48 hour walkout next Tuesday is a go. Unions are fighting tooth and nail for every job and every concession as Transport for London managers try to find £2.4bn "efficiency savings" across the entire network. War of words A bitter war of words has now broken out with the Rail, Maritime and Transport accusing Transport for London of "rank hypocrisy" in rejecting a 5% pay rise request while paying 123 TfL managers more than £100,000 a year. TfL said the union "continues to avoid engaging in any meaningful talks".
Pay and job security
The row centres on an RMT claim that Underground chiefs broke an agreement ensuring job security and which would have halted a planned 3,000 redundancies. A five-year pay offer by LU has also been described as "unacceptable" by the union. Mangers make over £250,000 plus bonuses TfL's annual report showed that 123 of its managers earn more than £100,000 a year, with five earning more than £250,000 plus bonuses, the RMT said. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Those very same managers who have been attacking our members over pay and job security, and who have turned a blind eye to the bullying culture now rife on the Underground, have scooped the jackpot when it comes to their own pay and bonuses." A TfL spokesman said the pay figures were announced by the company itself several months ago and that senior TfL managers will have their salaries frozen this year. He said: "The RMT leadership should start talking to us rather than threatening strike action that is supported by less than 30% of their membership, will lose their members pay and will cause unnecessary frustration and disruption to Londoners."
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