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| Tube strike: Union leaders in last ditch attempt to restart talks | |
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| Union leaders were today making a last ditch attempt to restart talks aimed at preventing a 48-hour tube strike that could affect millions of Londoners and paralyse the capital's transport system. | Union leaders were today making a last ditch attempt to restart talks aimed at preventing a 48-hour tube strike that could affect millions of Londoners and paralyse the capital's transport system. |
| The general secretaries of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Bob Crow and Manuel Cortes, today went to City Hall in an attempt to confront Boris Johnson. | The general secretaries of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), Bob Crow and Manuel Cortes, today went to City Hall in an attempt to confront Boris Johnson. |
| The tube strike begins this evening with disruption to services expected from 9pm for 48-hours, and at the same time next week. | The tube strike begins this evening with disruption to services expected from 9pm for 48-hours, and at the same time next week. |
| Transport for London warned that services will be hit from this evening until Friday morning, causing travel chaos for passengers. | Transport for London warned that services will be hit from this evening until Friday morning, causing travel chaos for passengers. |
| Mr Crow said: "We have exchanged letters with Boris Johnson and it's now time to meet face to face - if he won't come to us then we are showing our willingness to engage by travelling to him. This dispute is too important for London for anyone to retreat into their bunker. | Mr Crow said: "We have exchanged letters with Boris Johnson and it's now time to meet face to face - if he won't come to us then we are showing our willingness to engage by travelling to him. This dispute is too important for London for anyone to retreat into their bunker. |
| "We are making it clear again today that if Boris Johnson lifts the threat to jobs we will suspend the action to allow for fresh talks from a clean slate. It is not too late for Boris to take up that fair and reasonable offer and we are at City Hall to make it happen." | "We are making it clear again today that if Boris Johnson lifts the threat to jobs we will suspend the action to allow for fresh talks from a clean slate. It is not too late for Boris to take up that fair and reasonable offer and we are at City Hall to make it happen." |
| Yesterday, the London Mayor Boris Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom | Yesterday, the London Mayor Boris Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom |
| Mr Cortes added: "It is time for Boris to stop playing politics with the Tube. He may impress the right wing of the Tory Party by picking a fight with us but he is doing no favours to the travelling public. | Mr Cortes added: "It is time for Boris to stop playing politics with the Tube. He may impress the right wing of the Tory Party by picking a fight with us but he is doing no favours to the travelling public. |
| "They want what we want. A properly staffed, safe and secure tube network." | "They want what we want. A properly staffed, safe and secure tube network." |
| Yesterday, the London Mayor Boris Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom ahead of the two strikes. His comments came after photographs appeared in the press showing Mr Crow sunbathing on a beach in South America. | Yesterday, the London Mayor Boris Johnson accused rail union boss Bob Crow of holding London to ransom ahead of the two strikes. His comments came after photographs appeared in the press showing Mr Crow sunbathing on a beach in South America. |
| In his weekly column for the Daily Telegraph, the mayor said that while he did not begrudge Mr Crow his holiday, he was not entitled to "disrupt the lives of millions of people who are not on holiday but who want to work". | In his weekly column for the Daily Telegraph, the mayor said that while he did not begrudge Mr Crow his holiday, he was not entitled to "disrupt the lives of millions of people who are not on holiday but who want to work". |
| Mr Crow hit back, however, and stressed that his holiday was "booked up well before" the strike action. Mr Crow was also questioned about whether his high-profile was a distraction and how much the holiday cost, with some claiming it was £10,000. | Mr Crow hit back, however, and stressed that his holiday was "booked up well before" the strike action. Mr Crow was also questioned about whether his high-profile was a distraction and how much the holiday cost, with some claiming it was £10,000. |
| "If I'm going to spend £10,000 on a car, or if I'm going to spend £10,000 on a holiday, or £10,000 on cigarettes, that's up to me," said Crow. | "If I'm going to spend £10,000 on a car, or if I'm going to spend £10,000 on a holiday, or £10,000 on cigarettes, that's up to me," said Crow. |
| "I'm not being a distraction at all. What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read books of Karl Marx every day?" he added. | "I'm not being a distraction at all. What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read books of Karl Marx every day?" he added. |