This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6976809.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Maintenance strike cripples Tube Maintenance strike cripples Tube
(about 1 hour later)
A strike by maintenance workers on London Underground (LU) has stopped all trains on nine lines.A strike by maintenance workers on London Underground (LU) has stopped all trains on nine lines.
The RMT union started a 72-hour strike at 1800 BST, in a row over pensions and jobs after the collapse of Metronet.The RMT union started a 72-hour strike at 1800 BST, in a row over pensions and jobs after the collapse of Metronet.
London Underground said trains were being kept in depots during the strike and services might not return to normal until Friday morning.London Underground said trains were being kept in depots during the strike and services might not return to normal until Friday morning.
Only the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines are operating, because they are maintained by another firm.Only the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines are operating, because they are maintained by another firm.
Another 72-hour stoppage is planned for next Monday.Another 72-hour stoppage is planned for next Monday.
AFFECTED LINES BakerlooCentralVictoriaCircleDistrictEast LondonHammersmith & CityMetropolitanWaterloo & City Latest London travel newsAFFECTED LINES BakerlooCentralVictoriaCircleDistrictEast LondonHammersmith & CityMetropolitanWaterloo & City Latest London travel news
The RMT said any problems with the maintenance of trains, tracks or signalling would remain unresolved during the strike.
"If anything goes wrong, it will stay wrong," said a spokesman.
On Monday, Unite and the TSSA said they would not go on strike after being given assurances.On Monday, Unite and the TSSA said they would not go on strike after being given assurances.
But the TSSA said its 360 members would take part in the second planned 72-hour strike, if a matter concerning pensions was not resolved.But the TSSA said its 360 members would take part in the second planned 72-hour strike, if a matter concerning pensions was not resolved.
The unions have been seeking guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July, when it went into administration.The unions have been seeking guarantees there will be no job losses, forced transfers or cuts in pensions as a result of Metronet's collapse in July, when it went into administration.
It would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners London mayor Ken Livingstone class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/03_09_07_letter_to_bob_crow.pdf">TfL letter to Bob Crow Picket lines were mounted outside Tube depots and large queues have started to build up at bus stops as workers tried to get home.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the union had not received the "copper-bottomed guarantees" it had been seeking. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "The efforts the mayor and Transport for London have put in to try to broker a deal have been welcome, but the problem for all of us remains that Metronet and its administrator are the employer and the qualified assurances they have given cover only the period of administration.
The only assurances received so far were related to jobs and transfers and covered only the period of administration, he said. The only result will be that the lives of millions of Londoners are disrupted and RMT members will lose hundreds of pounds LU's Tim O'Toole class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/03_09_07_letter_to_bob_crow.pdf">TfL letter to Bob Crow
Transport for London (TfL) said it had released copies of letters sent to the unions making it clear there would be no job losses, forced transfers or changes to pensions while Metronet was in administration. Transport for London (TfL) said all three Tube unions had received all the assurances they were seeking and has released a letter it sent to Mr Crow which outlines those promises.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "It would be incomprehensible to disrupt the lives of millions of Londoners and lose their members significant amounts of pay when all of the assurances they have asked for have been given." Tim O'Toole, LU's managing director, accused the RMT of ignoring these assurances and organising a three-day strike which "had no purpose".
"RMT leaders have claimed that they have not received the assurances they requested from Metronet and the administrator regarding jobs, transfers and pensions," he said.
"This is patently not true.
"The only result will be that the lives of millions of Londoners are disrupted and RMT members will lose hundreds of pounds."
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said on Monday night that the strike was one of the most "purposeless" ever called.
Striking RMT members will lobby the Department for Transport on Tuesday as part of the union's campaign for Tube maintenance work to be brought back in house.
Are you worried about your journey home? Have you made alternative travel plans? Send us your comments with the form below. Or send us your text messages to 61124Are you worried about your journey home? Have you made alternative travel plans? Send us your comments with the form below. Or send us your text messages to 61124
Name
 Name