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Tube strikes could be called off Underground strikes to go ahead
(about 4 hours later)
A series of Tube strikes planned over a pay row could be called off by unions. A series of Tube strikes linked to the collapse of a maintenance firm will go ahead, a union has said.
Members of Unite, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are due to begin action on Monday.Members of Unite, the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are due to begin action on Monday.
They are protesting over job losses faced by Metronet staff. Transport for London (TfL) said all issues raised by the unions were being addressed.They are protesting over job losses faced by Metronet staff. Transport for London (TfL) said all issues raised by the unions were being addressed.
Union leaders will discuss the matter on Friday after London's mayor said he would seek guarantees over jobs. The strikes are planned for 3, 4 and 10 September.
Tube maintenance firm Metronet had planned to invest £17bn over the next 30 years, under the terms of a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, but went into administration in July. Guarantees sought
The blame will lie squarely with the administrator and Metronet Union leaders The RMT said more than 2,300 of its members would walk out for 72-hours from 1800 BST on Monday.
A joint statement from the unions on Thursday said they "welcomed the commitment he (Ken Livingstone) gave to seek to secure the guarantees on jobs, forced transfers and pensions that they are seeking from failed Tube privateer Metronet". Union leaders are seeking guarantees over jobs, transfers and pensions from Metronet which went into administration in July.
However, they said they wanted the same guarantees from Metronet and the administrator before calling the strikes off. The RMT said the maintenance firm had failed to offer the "unequivocal" guarantees on jobs, transfers and pensions it was seeking.
They also said that if strikes go ahead on Monday "the blame will lie squarely with the administrator and Metronet". After talks with the unions on Thursday London mayor Ken Livingstone said: "TfL has been given assurances by the administrator which meet all of the trade unions' concerns.
Mr Livingstone said: "TfL has been given assurances by the administrator which meet all of the trade unions' concerns.
"These are that no staff will be transferred and there will be no job reductions, during the period of administration.""These are that no staff will be transferred and there will be no job reductions, during the period of administration."
He said he would be asking the administrator and Metronet to make clear they will implement these undertakings. Vague assurances
But Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, said a letter from Metronet and the administrator fell "way short" of the guarantees workers deserved.
"The only assurances we have received about jobs and transfers cover only the period of administration, and that is simply not good enough."
He warned of a second 72-hour strike on 10 September if the issue was not resolved.
Members of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association are also due to walkout for 48-hours on 4 September.