Catherwood LibraryILR School

Already faced with the prospect of an eight-day nationwide Fire Brigades Union strike tomorrow (see WIT’s for today and Nov. 13, 2002), the British government is now confronting the possibility of simultaneous strikes at airports and the London Underground. Concerned about the safety of its members in the event of a train accident during a firefighters strike, the leadership of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) called for a strike ballot to determine the rank-and-file’s support for a possible decision to walk out if the firefighters strike tomorrow. With specialist firefighters represented by the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and the Amicus union preparing to strike over pay at seven airports, general union GMB has suggested that its members at those airports might also stop working out of safety concerns.