Tube boss: these strikers aim to bring down our firm

RMT leader Bob Crow rejected claims by maintenance firm Tube Lines that the disruption due to start on Wednesday was nothing to do with pay and conditions but was a political attack on the firm and on the Mayor.

Tube Lines chairman Terry Morgan said the walkout by RMT maintenance workers was an attempt to collapse his company and bring its work back into the public sector following the collapse of Metronet and its subsequent transfer to TfL control.

But Mr Crow responded saying Mr Morgan should "stop throwing petty insults around and get around the table to negotiate a solution".

The RMT has ordered eight days of strikes - mainly affecting the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines - from noon on Wednesday. Tube Lines operates emergency response teams throughout the network, meaning other lines could also suffer major disruption.

A second 72-hour stoppage is due in two weeks from Wednesday 3 September.

Those going on strike earn up to £52,000 and have turned down a pay increase of 4.95 per cent, demanding equality with Metronet's 5.1 per cent rise.

Mr Morgan accused the RMT of using the strike call to push its own agenda. He cited low voting figures: of 1,000 workers entitled to vote on the action about half did not. Of those who did, only 280 backed the call. "Such a small proportion should not try to mess up the week of millions of Londoners," he said.

But Mr Crow said: "Tube Lines pays lower rates than Metronet and offers inferior pensions and travel facilities. Our members voted by a margin of more than three to one to strike because what is on the table will widen that gap.

"If Terry Morgan doubts that this is an industrial dispute he should try putting some more money and better conditions on the table," he said.

A Tube Lines spokeswoman said if staff accepted the current offer "then 95 per cent of grades will earn more [than their counterparts at] Metronet."

Critics say the action is also a shot at Boris Johnson, who wants a no-strike deal for the Tube, adding that as various contracts across the Tube network were renewed a condition would be that the London living wage was paid.

Workers who clean Eurostar trains are also planning to stage a 24-hour strike over pay on bank holiday Monday.