04/09/2007

Commuters Facing Travel Chaos As Tube Strike Continues

Millions of commuters in London are facing a struggle to get to work as the Tube strike severely disrupted services in London.

Ten of the Tube's 12 lines are affected by the strike, with only the Jubilee and Northern lines operating a full service.

It is feared that services may not return to normal before Friday morning.

A spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) said that the disruption caused by the strike was "severe and totally unacceptable".

Around 2,300 members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union walked out on a 72-hour strike at 6pm on Monday.

The strike is related to the collapse of maintenance firm Metronet. The RMT, along with the Transport Salaried Staffs Association and Unite, had wanted assurances that there would be no jobs losses, forced transfers or pensions cuts as a result of the collapse of Metronet.

On Monday, a TfL spokesperson said that both the administrator and Metronet had assured the unions that there would be no job cuts or transfers and that pensions would be fully protected while the company was in administration.

Both the TSSA and Unite decided not to go ahead with their planned strike action after receiving the assurances. However, the TSSA warned that its members would participate in another 72-hour strike planned for next week if an issue concerning pensions was not resolved.

The RMT union said that they had not received "unequivocal" guarantees from the administrator and Metronet and warned that another 72-hour strike would go ahead next Monday if the dispute has not been resolved.

However, on Tuesday, the RMT union confirmed that talks have begun between the union and London Underground officials in a bid to end the strike. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the talks were talking place as a result of discussions on Monday night with London transport commissioner Peter Hendy, which he described as a "positive development".

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has described the strike as "wholly unjustifiable".

(KMcA/SP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 September 2007
Commuters Face Further Tube Delays
Commuters in London are still facing travel misery on the Tube, despite the fact that a 72-hour strike by maintenance workers has been called off. The RMT union called off the strike action, which began at 6pm on Monday and involved around 2,300 employees, following talks with London Underground officials.
20 November 2013
RMT Threaten Strike Action Over Potential Job Losses
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union have said that its members will strike if expected job cuts and closures are announced by Transport for London (TfL) on Thursday. According to the union some 3,000 jobs are at risk and hundred of tickets offices face closure as TfL face cuts of about £80 million in the coming year.
02 June 2004
RMT tube strike to start June 10
Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) members working on the London Underground have today "voted overwhelmingly" to strike action on June 10 - a date which coincides with the European and London mayoral elections. The union said that action had been taken following the employers’ "failure to negotiate seriously on pay and conditions".
17 December 2003
Underground chaos looms as drivers threaten strike
London Underground drivers on two lines have threatened to take strike action on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, threatening chaos on the Tube system. The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) have said that the two proposed 24-hour strikes will affect services on the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines.
28 June 2004
Last-ditch talks to avert Tube strike break down
A last-ditch effort to avert the 24-hour Tube strike between London Underground (LU) and union representatives this afternoon has failed to reach agreement. Management from LU met with representatives of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union today in a bid to stave off the one-day strike over pay that is set to begin on Tuesday evening.