Poplar depot, DLR, 3.11.15, photo by Naomi Byron (Click to enlarge)

Determined DLR strikers to "fight all the way"

Scott Jones and Naomi Byron

The Docklands Light Railway in London has been shut down for 48 hours on 3 and 4 November as over 300 workers take strike action. At the heart of the dispute is the abuse of the use of agency staff by DLR operator Keolis Amey. RMT members' terms and conditions have been undermined by casualisation, there have been breaches of agreements and a creeping culture of bullying and intimidation of staff being allowed to develop.

Socialist Party members attended picket lines at both DLR depots, brought solidarity and spoke to those on strike. 'It's all about cost cutting and this is just the start', said pickets at the Poplar depot.

"Any more than eight days sick, you get a warning. A heart attack or a toothache are treated the same", explained one worker.

This was reiterated by those on the picket line at the largest DLR depot in Beckton. One worker said: "There are members who have been assaulted on the job but have faced disciplinary action for taking time off." One RMT member is on a final written warning for taking time off after an assault.

Beckton depot, DLR, 3.11.15, photo by Scott Jones (Click to enlarge)

Strikers at both depots made the point that under previous contractor Serco, there was only one dispute in five years. Keolis Amey have only been operating the DLR for ten months, yet this is the third dispute in that time and was voted for by massive majorities for both strike action and action 'short of a strike'. Over 92% voted to strike with an even larger majority for action short of a strike.

Not a single train had left either depot by mid morning on 3 November - the strike was rock solid.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "Pickets have been out in force and it's now time for Keolis Amey to recognise the sheer strength of feeling on the shop floor and to get round the table for meaningful talks that address the raft of serious issues at the heart of this dispute. The disruption caused by the shutdown of DLR this morning is entirely down to the intransigence of management."

The workers themselves concluded, as one of them put it: "This is going to be a protracted dispute, but we will fight it all the way."

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 3 November 2015 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.