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Strikes will shut Tube for four days
Dick Murray, Transport Editor28.03.08
Tube union bosses today ordered four days of strikes starting on Sunday 6 April.
All lines will be affected and the network, used by more than 3.3 million people a day, faces total shutdown.
The strike will begin at 6.30pm on the Sunday and last until the same time on Wednesday 9 April.
The disruption will wipe out services for Wednesday evening and could continue into Thursday.
The two biggest unions, the RMT and the TSSA, together representing 7,500 station staff and hundreds of train drivers, ordered the walk-outs in a dispute over alleged safety issues.
The unions have told London Underground its plans for ticket office closures, the use of agency and security staff (primarily on the northern end of the Bakerloo line), employees working alone at stations as well as other issues "amount to an unacceptable attack on safety standards".
RMT leader Bob Crow said: "Tube workers will not stand idly by while the security of the network is compromised by managers who clearly believe that staff and passenger safety can be looked after on the cheap."
Gerry Doherty, General Secretary of the TSSA, said: "This is a dispute about the safety of our Tube system. The last people we want to hit is the travelling public but this seems to be the only way we can make LU listen."
The severity of the strike action shocked Tube chiefs. It is expected to hit the FA Cup semi-final between Cardiff City and Barnsley at Wembley on the Sunday, which is expected to be a 90,000 sell-out, and risks turning the Olympic torch relay into a damp squib on the Wednesday.
The two sides are expected to meet again for talks but because of the multitude of issues, time is running out.
An LU spokesman said: "These issues have nothing whatsoever to do with safety, and not a single job is at risk.
"There is simply no reason for a strike, or even the threat of one, as all of the issues being raised can be resolved."
Reader views (44)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
The Unions say they represent ordinary working people. If the dispute is over safety then why not disclose the details to the ordinary Londoners who are affected by the strike. If there is a valid case I'm sure there will be public support. Let Bob give power to the people who he is trying to protect - the passengers so that we can decide if we think our safety is being compromised and if we want to Boycott the service or support a strike? Or perhaps we will think he is an old guard Union man who prevents any progress that he doesn't like and blackmails the management to the benefit of his members but to the detriment of the fare paying public who pay the highest public transport costs in Europe?
- Duckers, London
There seems to be a lot of support for the strikers here. Rather than idly standing by as suggested, it would appear that the union staff are busy sending messages to this site - far safer than looking after passengers.
- Tom, Watford UK
I have just looked on the TFL website and can see no information whatsoever about this proposed strike. Do TFL plan on communicating with the millions of people who will be affected, or are we supposed to just hope for the best if and when it happens?
- Faye, London
Good luck to the workers,I hope you bring the system to its knees,and make TfL and LuL realise that they simply can't do what they plan to.
This dispute is not over pay,its safety, simple as that.
Now, because a strike is invloved,over EXACTLEY the same issues,it's all change,and the workers,who are fighting to keep their jobs,and at the same time,keep the travelling public of London safe, are seen as the bad boys.
If these cuts are allowed to take place,the tube will become a no go area after dark, simple as that.
What do you as a commuter want? A safe journey, day and night, or one where you have to nervously keep looking over your shoulder every time you stand on a platform late at night ?
Look further into the issues,before you start to slag the staff off,and think what impact the proposed cuts may have to your travelling experience on the underground in the future.
- Steve, Oxford
I have no links to the underground, but it is hilarious all the people commenting about how much money the tube workers get and how selfish they are. Strike means no pay and the reasons are to provide safety for passengers.
- Dean, London, England
Union bosses do not order their members to strike, members of the union voted by ballot for this action, substitute the words Trade Unions for ordinary working people, and the rest of us might be more sympathetic.
- Thomas, Shirley
There are two reasons why this particular section of the UK labour market has been subjected to so much industrial action. One, because of a highly inflamed and feisty very left wing union leader. Is he really and in all honesty carrying out the true and democratic choices of his membership?
The other is London Underground Management which is weak, ineffective, reactive and distinctly 1970 public sector in attitude.
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK
They are a disgrace and should be fired. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing and able to drive trains (with a bit of training) for far less money than these union blackmailers earn.
- Ian, London
Using my crystal ball I predict a threat of a tube strike over safety issues for a fortnight in June 2012. Clearly our tubes are really safe at all times except when there is a special event going on that could show London to be the fantastic city it is!
- Andy, London
In his every word and action you can see that Crow is a bully, he does not appear to be a sensible negotiator, regardless of management's slowness to address issues. Why do his members allow this confrontational style to persist? As usual we Londoners suffer.
- Nick, Rotherhithe
8/9 typical comments.
Can any of you name the nine points the strike is over?
We have had our pay rise for this year already THIS is about safety.
- Tube Worker, London
Laura, the whole point of organized labour is to make a stand against the appalling and exploitative working conditions you perversely seem to revel in.
If this strike means there will be trained tube staff around to assist me the next time there is a terrorist attack or a train crashes due to the likes of Metronet botching maintenances then I support them!
- Paul, Stevenage, UK
Colin from Barking, you probably are as well. The RMT want certain issues that have already been met by LUL and the consortia managing, please try not to laugh, the maintenance works. other issues are beyond the control of the consortia so Bob has thrown his teddy out of the pram, as usual. I look forward to the strike as it means that I get to work from home, cheers FAT BOB.
- Joe, London
I work for LU and since they expect me to chuck out people from a station at around 1 am without any help, RMT have my vote. I simply am too scared to do it. If I had a ticket office seller with me, it would be different. We, together, could perhaps offer basic first aid etc and if one of us was in danger we could run for help.
Also where on earth are people going to go when their 'Oyster Card' goes wrong. This was a very badly thought out scheme.
- Susan, Essex
The TSSA union have not called a strike since 1926.Does that not tell its own story?
- Mike, southgate uk
Let them strike if they want. No pay for them for four days eh? but we can claim each way every day, so at £4 a time, we get over £30 in compensation through the Customer Charter refund process. Great. We will also be using the wonderful overground train service London has to offer, so Londoner's rejoice as we win both ways! Thank you Tube workers.
- Nico, Morden, Surrey
RMT leader Bob Crow said: "Tube workers will not stand idly by while the security of the network is compromised by managers who clearly believe that staff and passenger safety can be looked after on the cheap."
That should be changed our workers will stand idly by.
Bob get a life not everyone has the benefits you people get and the salary of £38311 for 34 hours is it and final salary pension.
damn you guys have it hard. NOT
Get a life and stop making Londoners lives hell!
- Max, london
This strike is not about money-tubeworkers have already settled their pay talks amicably but that doesn't make an interesting headline so no-one is aware.
It is a shame that some people retreat to easy stereotypes rather than look at the issues involved.
Many people complaining about the strike will be the same people complaining that ticket offices are closed for long periods of the day.
- Mike, London
Why don't we all go on strike for a day. I m sure our bigger corporate bosses can see the value of a work from home exercise if it puts these morons back in their place.
I am so sick of hearing how awful their working conditions are. The driver gets a whole carriage to his/ herself! Should we commuters be so lucky we might not mind paying more for our tube ride than the cost of a long haul flight mile for mile.
Their pay is excellent considering the actual tasks performed-
If these drivers are so unhappy, then why haven't they quit? Sack them all I say!
There are plenty people on the dole out there who I m sure could be taught to push a button or two and pay attention to coloured lights.
- Lauren, London, UK
Typical comments from people who dont have a clue, what they are saying or about the situation. It has nothing to do with money or pay. The Tube Staff are already getting a 4.7% increase from April. It is about planned working practises that will have an effect on your safety when you use the system.
Having no staff on stations after 20.00 hrs but a single security guard, who wont get involved or help if you get mugged or beaten up. 3 of these guards have been put in hospital since LUL took over the top of the Bakerloo Line in November last year.
Closure of station ticket offices so you cant buy tickets or resolve problems with your Oyster card, even less staff around when you need help. All you will have will be the machines that don't sell all tickets and when they get full or jam up they will go out of service as no staff to empty or service them.
Remote station supervisors covering a group of stations, so say you get ill on a train and it cant move from station D and supervisor is at station A, he cant get to you to assist as no train service. This means he will have to get a bus or a cab, when every station should have a supervisor. If you are not ill you could be trapped in a defective lift, and have to wait over 30 mins just for a qualified person to get to station, look at situation and if cant resolve by local means then if needed call the fire brigade.
- Basil, Basildon
It's spring, summer is coming - take the opportunity to switch to cycling to work, save money, get fitter and know what time you'll arrive each day! Ask a cycling friend or work colleague to help you map out a route and accompany you on a couple of occasions.
- Charlie Holland, London, SW16
It is time for Red Ken to pack his bags. Transport in London is a fiasco, look at tubes, buses, overcrowded roads, bad airports etc. We need a new mayor! Go Boris!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
We know its all about politics and how RMT and TSSA can influence the mayoral election by drumming up false issues.
- Stephen, London, UK
We can all see what's coming can't we?....
Three weeks before the start of the 2012 Olympics, Bob Crow and his lackeys will threaten strikes unless TfL caves in to ludicrous demands for higher-pay, more holidays, shorter working-weeks, better pensions, and seats in the royal-box at the opening-ceremony.
If Ken's still in charge he'll get it all too as we know from past experience we won't stand-up to his buddies in the unions.
- Sean, London
"Tube workers will not stand idly by" - since when? they seem to do nothing but.
- Cm, London
Well said, Laura. I am sick of being used as a pawn in some pathetic game played by the Tube unions. I too work long hours including unpaid overtime. In my business this is necessary as we put our clients first - it's called "customer service" and having pride in a job well done; perhaps they should try it!
- Ann, London
I see as usual the average person only thinks of themselves. So your journey will be a bit harder for a few days, at least someone is fighting to make sure that in the future you survive the journey.
The workers are striking for all of us. Health & Safety, especially on the underground, is easily and often compromised by poor management who consider cost rather than the safety of us all. It is cheaper to have the insurance company payout to the few that successfully claim than to protect the rest of us as much as possible.
Good Luck and thank you to all those that strike for the rest of us selfish people.
I do not work or have any family who work for these companies (for those cynics who think that is why I think like this).
- Sheena Farenden, Hornchurch, London
What a surprise, they're striking during the football again, thank goodness we're not in Euro 2008.
- Dropova Hat, Elephant and Castle
It's interesting that TSSA are striking, to my recollection they've never been on strike, there must be serious issues if it's forced them out!
- Mw, London, UK
What with this and the Terminal 5 chaos, London is in a really bad way at the moment.....
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK
Tube strike, Bob Crow, one of the reasons I left London
- Noel Coleman, Carlisle, England
Crow and Doherty are liars. They use the travelling public as porns in their power struggle tantrums to 'prove' their 'leadership', and don't care a fig. I wonder if they have to use the Underground at rush-hour? More likely they have chauffeur driven limos. The public are told not to abuse staff: by going on strike the staff are abusing the public!
- Blind Pugh, Addlestone, UK
For once I agree with the union over station closures. However I don't agree with going on strike. How about simply refusing to check tickets and leaving all gates open. That will completely annoy LRT and win the support of the travelling public.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
Must be hard getting paid 35k pa to push a stick in a cabin for 8 hours a day whilst getting about 40 days holiday....Roll on Bob Crowe and his cap doing a Michael Moore impression on the picket line....muppet.
- Adam Buckby, London
Presumably the Tube Unions have already emarked a specific fortnight in 2012 as they know that 'safety' is going to be a major concern and strikes will be called thereby putting London to ransom!
- Andy, London
Let 'em strike. London workers always have and always will get around the strikes to prove that no one holds us to ransom. Crowe can sling his hook!
- Paul, London
The issues involved are not being addressed by management. As usual it will take a yes vote for a strike for them to do so.
- Colin, Barking, Essex
This is bullying tactics from the Unions and the people that suffer are the commuters who are going to work as opposed to the money grabbing Tube workers. They should stop these tactics and enter the real World where we all work hard and some of us have to work unpaid overtime and only get 20 days holiday a year. However, I am happier doing that than 'throwing my toys out the cot' and making others suffer. Grow up - we all know it is about money and not safety issues!
- Laura, London
I was thinking we havn't heard from Bob Crowe for a couple of weeks. He must miss the attention.
- Rick, chislehurst
Enough Ken. Enough Bob.
TFL is an essential service. It cannot and should not be disrupted at the whim of 1970s union leaders. If you abuse the right to strike, you lose the right to strike.
That right should be withdrawn, replaced with binding - and fair arbitration. London should not be held to ransom. Let's hope Boris gets elected mayor and keeps his promise to remove the RMT thumb from London's windpipe
- Paul Canal, London
As per usual, this has absolutely nothing to do with the safety and security of the travelling public, and everything to do with the safety and security of overpaid, under worked union jobs.
- Damian, London
Once again we are all held to ransom by these people. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Pity we don’t have a mayor who will actually do something to prevent all these strikes without reason.
I for one will be making a protest vote for Boris Johnson in the elections. Not that I want him in, the man is a bumbling fool. But better him than the corrupt, failed politician we have right now.
- Luke, London, UK
That's right guys! Just in time for the Mayoral Election. It seems like you WANT Boris Johnson to win the election, and in a few weeks, when he does, you will be very sorry you even contemplated this strike. I am so glad I cycle in at times like this..
- Dave, London N10
Well what were you expecting? The sun came out yesterday reminding them that it'll be summer soon and that they could be sitting in the sun rather than doing their jobs.
- Micky Taker, Cockfosters
