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Millions affected as London Underground staff go on strike

Millions of passengers in London will have to make alternative arrangements as Underground s...
Newstalk
Newstalk

19.07 8 Jan 2017


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Millions affected as London Un...

Millions affected as London Underground staff go on strike

Newstalk
Newstalk

19.07 8 Jan 2017


Share this article


Millions of passengers in London will have to make alternative arrangements as Underground staff go on strike.

The strike is by station staff, which means many Tube stations may not open at all on Monday.

Transport for London say those that do open are likely to only open after 7.00am and close by 7.00pm.

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It adds that only "severely restricted underground services" will run.

Buses in central London are likely to be much busier, and roads are likely to be more congested.

Tube station staff who are union members are striking for 24 hours from 6:00pm Sunday.

Members of the Rail Maritime & Transport Workers Union (RMT) and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are striking over pay and ticket office closures.

According to the unions, more than 800 jobs have been lost - while staff are allegedly being abused by passengers queuing at ticket machines.

Earlier, London's Mayor Sadiq Khan described the strike as "pointless".

"This strike is going to be a huge inconvenience to commuters, tourists and TfL staff.

"And it is pointless. There is a good deal sitting on the table that will ensure station safety and staffing levels across the Tube network."

Mr Khan added: "I am willing to carry on negotiations.

"This historic dispute has nothing to do with the millions of Londoners this strike is punishing."

Mick Cash of the RMT said: "Despite huge efforts by the union negotiating team London Underground have failed to come up with any serious plans to tackle the staffing and safety crisis caused by the axing of nearly 900 safety-critical station jobs.

"Instead of resolving the issues tube bosses have chosen instead to ramp up the rhetoric with threats to mobilise a strike-breaking army of "ambassadors" with severe consequences for the current safety regime across the Tube network.

"As a result of the management failure to face up to the current crisis the talks have collapsed and all industrial actions remains on."

The Tube handles up to 4.8 million passenger journeys per day.


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