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| Tube strike: London Underground action disrupting millions | Tube strike: London Underground action disrupting millions |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tube passengers have been experiencing a day of disruption as London Underground workers strike over planned job cuts and ticket office closures. | |
| The 48-hour walkout by the RMT and TSSA unions means there will be a limited Tube service until Friday morning. | The 48-hour walkout by the RMT and TSSA unions means there will be a limited Tube service until Friday morning. |
| The unions want Transport for London to suspend plans to cut 950 jobs and close all ticket offices. TfL claims it will modernise systems and save £50m a year. | The unions want Transport for London to suspend plans to cut 950 jobs and close all ticket offices. TfL claims it will modernise systems and save £50m a year. |
| RMT leader Bob Crow said the strike was "rock solid". | RMT leader Bob Crow said the strike was "rock solid". |
| The TSSA claimed the service had been reduced by 70%, though Transport for London said it was operating train services on eight out of 11 lines. | The TSSA claimed the service had been reduced by 70%, though Transport for London said it was operating train services on eight out of 11 lines. |
| The industrial action, which began at 21:00 on Tuesday, has come as the government said it was looking "very, very closely" at plans to declare London Underground an essential service to curb the threat of future strikes. | The industrial action, which began at 21:00 on Tuesday, has come as the government said it was looking "very, very closely" at plans to declare London Underground an essential service to curb the threat of future strikes. |
| Under the plans, London Underground would be subject to a "minimum service agreement" under which staff would be required to keep a core level of services going regardless of any industrial action. | Under the plans, London Underground would be subject to a "minimum service agreement" under which staff would be required to keep a core level of services going regardless of any industrial action. |
| Government sources have told the BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith the Conservatives are considering including the proposal in the party manifesto for the next general election. | Government sources have told the BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith the Conservatives are considering including the proposal in the party manifesto for the next general election. |
| How has the Tube strike affected you? Tell us how long your journey took today, and how long it usually takes. Email england@bbc.co.uk | How has the Tube strike affected you? Tell us how long your journey took today, and how long it usually takes. Email england@bbc.co.uk |
| Speaking to BBC London 94.9 Mr Crow said: "During his election programme he [the mayor] said he would not close ticket offices. | Speaking to BBC London 94.9 Mr Crow said: "During his election programme he [the mayor] said he would not close ticket offices. |
| "We have always had job cuts, it is the way you go about it. | "We have always had job cuts, it is the way you go about it. |
| "We're available today and later tomorrow for talks and we want to resolve this. | "We're available today and later tomorrow for talks and we want to resolve this. |
| "The mayor should do the honourable thing and meet with us." | "The mayor should do the honourable thing and meet with us." |
| Speaking to the BBC, London Mayor Boris Johnson described the action as "pointless and unnecessary" and said his manifesto pledge about ticket office closures was from 2008 "before the iPhone was invented." | Speaking to the BBC, London Mayor Boris Johnson described the action as "pointless and unnecessary" and said his manifesto pledge about ticket office closures was from 2008 "before the iPhone was invented." |
| He also reiterated his call for a ban on strike action affecting London transport, unless it was supported by more than 50% of union members eligible to be balloted. | |
| "That would be reasonable for vital transport functions, such as the London Underground, which has to keep the greatest city on earth moving and on which millions of people will depend for their livelihoods," he said. | "That would be reasonable for vital transport functions, such as the London Underground, which has to keep the greatest city on earth moving and on which millions of people will depend for their livelihoods," he said. |
| "And people say, oh well you know, you only got elected on 40%. I just think that there's a difference between a local electoral or political election and the operation of a vital public service." | "And people say, oh well you know, you only got elected on 40%. I just think that there's a difference between a local electoral or political election and the operation of a vital public service." |
| He later met staff and commuters at London Bridge station. | He later met staff and commuters at London Bridge station. |
| About 100 extra buses have been laid on and normal services were due to be running on London Overground and Tramlink, but the strike was expected to cause major travel disruption to millions of passengers over the 48-hour period. | |
| In the Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron "unreservedly condemned" the strike and said Labour leader Ed Miliband ought to do the same. | |
| "We need a modernised Tube line working for the millions of Londoners who use it every day. | |
| "The fact is only 3% of transactions now involve ticket offices so it makes sense to have fewer people in those offices but more people on the platforms and the stations. | |
| "So I unreservedly condemn this strike." | |
| But when Mr Miliband did not comment Mr Cameron said: "Isn't it interesting that with six questions and an invitation to condemn the strike today, not a word?" | |
| Mr Crow and Manuel Cortes, leaders of the RMT and the TSSA, accused the mayor of refusing to meet them to discuss the ticket office closures. | Mr Crow and Manuel Cortes, leaders of the RMT and the TSSA, accused the mayor of refusing to meet them to discuss the ticket office closures. |
| Mr Miliband said yesterday it was "deeply regrettable" that no negotiation or meetings with the mayor and TfL seemed to have happened. | |
| The strikes will affect all Underground lines with only limited services on the following: | The strikes will affect all Underground lines with only limited services on the following: |
| A second 48-hour Underground walkout is due to begin at 21:00 GMT on 11 February. | A second 48-hour Underground walkout is due to begin at 21:00 GMT on 11 February. |
| You can follow any disruption on the BBC London travel Twitter feed @BBC Travel Alert or on the BBC London Travel Page. You can also get regular travel updates from the BBCHow will the strike affect your journey to work? What changes will you make to your commute? You can send us your comments using the form below. London 94.9 travel team. | You can follow any disruption on the BBC London travel Twitter feed @BBC Travel Alert or on the BBC London Travel Page. You can also get regular travel updates from the BBCHow will the strike affect your journey to work? What changes will you make to your commute? You can send us your comments using the form below. London 94.9 travel team. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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