Workers on the Elizabeth line voted to go on strike over pay

After union members voted decisively in favor of industrial action in a salary dispute, Elizabeth line employees are planning their first strike.

Members of Prospect at Rail for London Infrastructure voted 94% in favor of walking out after rejecting a 4% wage increase, which they deemed to be below the rate of inflation. Additionally, 92% of union members voted in favor of additional forms of industrial action. There are 75 Prospect employees on the Elizabeth line.

And it is possible that other unions will also strike. The TSSA [Transport Salaried Staffs' Association] union has previously stated that managers managing the line, which has logged 70 million journeys since opening on May 24th, are compensated "much less" than those in comparable positions. The TSSA is also conducting member consultations and will finish its ballot on December 22.

Prospect has not disclosed any information regarding potential strike dates or other forms of industrial action.

Mike Clancy, general secretary of the union, stated, "Our members have worked tremendously hard to get the Elizabeth line ready for safe operation, yet they are treated much worse than comparable workers on the remainder of London's network."

"The Elizabeth line is currently generating substantial additional passenger revenue for Transport for London and its budget is underspent, so there should be room for salary adjustments. Our members do not wish to go on strike, but their salary is so far behind inflation that they are just unable to make ends meet."

He stated that the union is "open to talks" and is hoping for a "offer sufficient to prevent industrial action."

Transport for London has been requested to comment. It had earlier stated that it has offered managers 4% raises for 2022 and 4.4% raises for 2023.

Thousands of Londoners were rescued by the Elizabeth line during this year's RMT Tube strikes. It had also continued to operate, albeit with reduced services, during national rail strikes.

Director of the Elizabeth line Howard Smith previously stated on the TSSA ballot, "Strikes are harmful for everyone, and we urge TSSA to engage with us to avoid this industrial action."