Tube strike: eight-day action gets go-ahead

An eight day tube strike will go ahead tomorrow but will have no impact on Tube services, according to LU.

London Underground power workers are going ahead with the strike after the failure of last-ditch talks to resolve a row over pensions and working conditions. Words and photo: PA.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and Unite are due to walk out from 8pm tomorrow threatening travel disruption in the capital.

LU has said that the industrial action will have no impact on Tube services, although unions have warned there will be disruption.

Mick Cash RMT acting general secretary said: "This dispute is over an all-out attack on the power control grade that would hit pensions, length of service and working conditions and damage the futures of this key group of tube workers. Management's claim that they can run the system without them is both provocative and dangerous.

"These staff are effectively the national grid for London Underground and this action will have the most severe consequences for Tube operations but has been forced on us by management wrecking the earlier talks. "

Mr Cash said there was still time to head off the strike.

A Unite spokesman said: "The blame for any disruption will lie with the management because this dispute should have been resolved weeks ago.

"The travelling public faces the very real prospect of their journeys being disrupted because of the irresponsibility of the management."

Richard Jones, London Underground's Head of Command and Control, said: "Due to detailed planning there will be no visible impact on the network should the strike action go ahead.

"We remain committed to discussions with Unite, TSSA and RMT representatives around working terms and conditions for staff in our power control team, I urge them to continue with constructive discussions rather than threaten pointless industrial action."

London Assembly Conservative transport spokesman Richard Tracey said: "In the 21st century it is ridiculous that we have a system that encourages militant trade union bosses to behave in this way - despite their members getting decent pay, generous pensions and free travel for flatmates.

"We urgently need to replace public transport strikes with independent judge-led mediation to protect commuters from this ongoing misery."

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