Tube talks break down
Talks to avert Tuesday’s tube strike have broken down.
RMT leader Bob Crow is quoted as saying that the 24 hour strike is definitely on.
The RMT has rejected London Underground’s offer of a 35 hour working week and a two year pay deal worth 6.5 per cent. It claims that there are too many strings attached to the deal.
It argues that “It also fails to mention that the pay offer is conditional on a significant reduction in sickness absence and that our claim for a four-day week has been dismissed.”
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said that the decision to strike is “inexplicable” saying that London Underground had met most of the union’s demands and offered a “generous” settlement.
London Underground is urging commuters to consider walking to work, warning: “Tube services will be severely disrupted as a result, from 18:30 BST on June 29th and throughout the whole of Wednesday, June 30th.”
Though the strike is scheduled to end at 18:30 BST on Wednesday, services are unlikely to resume until Thursday morning.
Extra buses and a water taxi service will be provided but these are likely to be very crowded as around three million people a day normally use the Tube.
Commuters are urged not to drive into central London and the £5 daily Congestion Charge will still apply.
Travel bulletins will be issued at regular intervals over the two days affected by the strike.
