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| Tube strike 2014: London Underground enters last-minute talks with RMT in bid to stop planned walkout | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Transport for London (TfL) will engage in last-minute talks with rail union bosses tomorrow morning in a bid to call off the planned 48-hour tube strike. | Transport for London (TfL) will engage in last-minute talks with rail union bosses tomorrow morning in a bid to call off the planned 48-hour tube strike. |
| David Cameron has called the walkout “unjustified and unacceptable” as millions of commuters brace themselves for two days of transport chaos. | David Cameron has called the walkout “unjustified and unacceptable” as millions of commuters brace themselves for two days of transport chaos. |
| Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister called on members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) to call off the 48-hour strike, which begins tomorrow at 9pm. | Speaking to the Evening Standard, the Prime Minister called on members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) to call off the 48-hour strike, which begins tomorrow at 9pm. |
| He said the walkout organised by workers on the London Underground would “hit millions of hard-working families across the capital and cause chaos for businesses” and urged Labour leader Ed Miliband to “make it clear that he condemns this strike without reservation”. | He said the walkout organised by workers on the London Underground would “hit millions of hard-working families across the capital and cause chaos for businesses” and urged Labour leader Ed Miliband to “make it clear that he condemns this strike without reservation”. |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson agreed with the Prime Minister, adding that the RMT treats its passengers with “contempt”. | Mayor of London Boris Johnson agreed with the Prime Minister, adding that the RMT treats its passengers with “contempt”. |
| “Its leadership is demonstrating once again its utter contempt for commuters and business alike”, he said. | “Its leadership is demonstrating once again its utter contempt for commuters and business alike”, he said. |
| The strikes were called after eight weeks of talks aimed at resolving the row over plans to close manned ticket offices broke down earlier this month. | The strikes were called after eight weeks of talks aimed at resolving the row over plans to close manned ticket offices broke down earlier this month. |
| The union claims that Transport for London’s (TfL) modernisation plans, which would see 953 station jobs cut, risks safety and will damage the quality of service. | The union claims that Transport for London’s (TfL) modernisation plans, which would see 953 station jobs cut, risks safety and will damage the quality of service. |
| But TfL believe that the plans can be achieved without compulsory redundancies or any loss of pay to workers. They also promise stations would remained staffed at all times. | But TfL believe that the plans can be achieved without compulsory redundancies or any loss of pay to workers. They also promise stations would remained staffed at all times. |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson told the Evening Standard: “No one will be forced out of a job, no one will lose pay. Fewer than three per cent of journeys start at a ticket office, at a cost of £50 million. By saving that we can help keep fares down”. | Mayor of London Boris Johnson told the Evening Standard: “No one will be forced out of a job, no one will lose pay. Fewer than three per cent of journeys start at a ticket office, at a cost of £50 million. By saving that we can help keep fares down”. |
| Ed Miliband has criticised the strikes as “wrong”, but laid responsibility on both sides. | Ed Miliband has criticised the strikes as “wrong”, but laid responsibility on both sides. |
| And an RMT spokesman has said it hopes the strikes will lead them to engage in “meaningful and serious talks”. | And an RMT spokesman has said it hopes the strikes will lead them to engage in “meaningful and serious talks”. |
| The last strike in February brought the network, which is used by three million people most days, to a virtual standstill. After next week’s 48-hour strike, RMT are planning another three-day walkout from May 5. | The last strike in February brought the network, which is used by three million people most days, to a virtual standstill. After next week’s 48-hour strike, RMT are planning another three-day walkout from May 5. |