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Tube workers to strike for two days in February, RMT announces | Tube workers to strike for two days in February, RMT announces |
(about 2 hours later) | |
London Underground (LU) workers are to stage two strikes in February in a row over jobs and ticket office closures. | London Underground (LU) workers are to stage two strikes in February in a row over jobs and ticket office closures. |
The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) said Tube staff will walk out for 16 hours from 18:00 GMT on 5 February. | The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union (RMT) said Tube staff will walk out for 16 hours from 18:00 GMT on 5 February. |
A 15-hour strike will then take place from 10:00 on 7 February. | A 15-hour strike will then take place from 10:00 on 7 February. |
Talks have been taking place between Tube bosses and the union at the conciliation service Acas but have failed to break the deadlock. | Talks have been taking place between Tube bosses and the union at the conciliation service Acas but have failed to break the deadlock. |
A 24-hour strike by the RMT and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) earlier this month over the same issues led to much of the Tube network being shut. | A 24-hour strike by the RMT and Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) earlier this month over the same issues led to much of the Tube network being shut. |
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said safety had been "compromised" by "cash-led cuts to staffing levels". | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said safety had been "compromised" by "cash-led cuts to staffing levels". |
However, he said the union "remains available for further serious talks". | However, he said the union "remains available for further serious talks". |
The TSSA has not said whether its members will join the walk out. | |
General secretary Manuel Cortes said the union would meet again with LU management on Monday and then "decide our next steps". | |
Steve Griffiths, London Underground's chief operating officer, called the strike "completely unnecessary" and added: "We are still in talks with the TSSA union but the RMT refused to join us today. We urge the RMT to continue talking to us so that we can reach a resolution." | |
Transport for London (TfL) has previously said it would address the recommendations of a recent report which found the closure of ticket offices had caused "significant issues" for Tube passengers. | Transport for London (TfL) has previously said it would address the recommendations of a recent report which found the closure of ticket offices had caused "significant issues" for Tube passengers. |
Analysis by Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent | |
The last Tube strike over the levels of staffing had a huge impact with many stations closed in zone one. Buses and overland rail stations couldn't cope. | |
You can expect a similar disruption in the week beginning Sunday 5 February. Unusually, the RMT will be striking in two blocks of 16 hours and 15 hours. | |
That means the disruption could easily stretch over four days, from the Sunday night through to the Wednesday, as trains and station staff will be all over the place. | |
But station staff on strike will not lose four days pay. It is designed to have maximum disruption. | |
LU admits the Tube needs more staff following ticket office closures, but so far the numbers being offered have not convinced the RMT. | |
Also the Mayor Sadiq Khan had promised "zero strikes" and said he would work closely with the unions. That promise is long gone. | |
There will be probably be talks next week. |
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