This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26028940
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Tube strike: Walkout expected in ticket office dispute | Tube strike: Walkout expected in ticket office dispute |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A strike on London Underground is due to start later, unless a last-minute settlement can be reached. | A strike on London Underground is due to start later, unless a last-minute settlement can be reached. |
| Members of two unions are due to walk out for 48 hours from 21:00 GMT - and again on 11 February. Transport for London plans to run a limited service. | Members of two unions are due to walk out for 48 hours from 21:00 GMT - and again on 11 February. Transport for London plans to run a limited service. |
| RMT union leader Bob Crow spoke briefly to London Mayor Boris Johnson on a radio show, but there was no agreement on the issue of ticket office closures. | RMT union leader Bob Crow spoke briefly to London Mayor Boris Johnson on a radio show, but there was no agreement on the issue of ticket office closures. |
| Transport for London said it would be willing to continue talks. | Transport for London said it would be willing to continue talks. |
| But plans to close ticket offices and cut 750 jobs would save £50m a year, it said. | But plans to close ticket offices and cut 750 jobs would save £50m a year, it said. |
| The Prime Minister has condemned the strikes as "shameful". | |
| David Cameron tweeted: "Bob Crow's Tube strike is shameful, bringing misery to millions of Londoners. Ed Miliband should condemn it now: no 'ifs' and no 'buts'." | |
| In response, a representative of the RMT said: "Rather than David Cameron making cheap political points he should get Boris Johnson to stick to his election promise to Londoners not to close ticket offices." | |
| 'Complete nonsense' | 'Complete nonsense' |
| Earlier Mr Crow and Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA union, went to City Hall to seek talks with the mayor of London. | |
| Mr Crow spoke to the mayor during his phone-in show on London's LBC radio, where he urged Mr Johnson to suspend the job cuts. | Mr Crow spoke to the mayor during his phone-in show on London's LBC radio, where he urged Mr Johnson to suspend the job cuts. |
| "We are asking you to listen to our point of view. We would love to call the strike off." | "We are asking you to listen to our point of view. We would love to call the strike off." |
| Mr Crow told Mr Johnson "suspend the notice, we'll suspend the action and we can all get round the table". | Mr Crow told Mr Johnson "suspend the notice, we'll suspend the action and we can all get round the table". |
| Mr Johnson said it was "complete nonsense", saying the RMT knew the strike was inevitable. He accused Mr Crow of "muscle flexing". | Mr Johnson said it was "complete nonsense", saying the RMT knew the strike was inevitable. He accused Mr Crow of "muscle flexing". |
| "Call off this pointless strike which will do nothing other than cost your members their wages," Mr Johnson said. | "Call off this pointless strike which will do nothing other than cost your members their wages," Mr Johnson said. |
| On Monday the conciliation service Acas said seven days of talks had ended without an agreement. | On Monday the conciliation service Acas said seven days of talks had ended without an agreement. |
| Speaking to BBC London 94.9, London Underground chief operating officer Phil Hufton said: "We are still trying to find a way round this and if I can do anything possible to change this I will." | Speaking to BBC London 94.9, London Underground chief operating officer Phil Hufton said: "We are still trying to find a way round this and if I can do anything possible to change this I will." |
| '£50m cost' | |
| The strikes will affect all Underground lines with only limited services expected: | The strikes will affect all Underground lines with only limited services expected: |
| The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimated that the strike could cost the London economy £50m each day, based on figures from the impact of a previous strike. | |
| Chief executive Colin Stanbridge said: "Any tube strike has a huge impact on the London business community and those it employs. | |
| "Not only does it make the daily commute more difficult for millions of workers, but will also impact on the tourists, visitors and shoppers who bring money into the London economy." | |
| He added that if, according to TfL's figures, only 3% of Tube journeys involved a visit to a ticket office, the changes seemed logical. | |
| Bus fears | Bus fears |
| Commuter Brenda Hussey, who normally takes the Tube from Southgate to her workplace in Warren Street, central London, said she would be commuting by bus during the walkout. | Commuter Brenda Hussey, who normally takes the Tube from Southgate to her workplace in Warren Street, central London, said she would be commuting by bus during the walkout. |
| "I'll be getting the bus at 05:30 tomorrow morning," she said. | "I'll be getting the bus at 05:30 tomorrow morning," she said. |
| "I'm very concerned if I'll get on the bus or not. | "I'm very concerned if I'll get on the bus or not. |
| "I don't agree with the strike, especially as the fares have gone up, and this is becoming increasingly frustrating as it's going to be next week as well." | "I don't agree with the strike, especially as the fares have gone up, and this is becoming increasingly frustrating as it's going to be next week as well." |