It's nearly time for the transport unions' annual threat of strike action over the Christmas holiday period, and lo, ASLEF have obliged.
The union are entering into talks with Transport for London (TfL) over bank holiday pay — keen-eyed readers might remember that last year's opening gambit was also a threat to ballot over strike action on Boxing Day...oh, and they did in 2010 as well, though in 2009 the RMT decided to take one for the team instead. Can anyone see a pattern emerging here?
The bone of contention (still) is an existing agreement between TfL and the unions which meant staff got extra annual leave and pay if they chose to work some bank holidays. ASLEF's argument is that drivers are now working the majority of the bank holidays and therefore should get triple pay and a day off in lieu — although we've yet to find out if this year's pay demand is the same as in previous years.
Photo by avail in the Londonist Flickr pool.